CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

London Olympics

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to ensure that people from all parts of the UK volunteer for the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: LOCOG will launch its London 2012 'Games Makers' volunteer scheme tomorrow. The scheme will be marketed across the UK. A roadshow in September will follow, and then selection and training events will be held across the country.
	The Department is working with local authorities to enable them to provide volunteers to welcome visitors in 2012.

BBC's Accounts

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on implementation of the proposals set out in the coalition agreement to give the National Audit Office full access to the BBC's accounts.

Edward Vaizey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat).

Arts: Finance

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with officials and Ministers in HM Treasury on future levels of arts funding.

Edward Vaizey: This Department meets regularly with the Treasury. The future arts funding settlement will be decided in the spending review, the outcome of which will be known in October this year.

Arts: Finance

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to ring-fence Arts Council England funding.

Edward Vaizey: There are no plans to ring-fence arts funding. Our priority is putting the economy back on its feet and restoring the nation's finances. This is in the interests of all our sectors, particularly the arts and culture sectors which receive significant amounts of private finance. Any budget reductions will be made while protecting frontline services as far as possible.

Betting

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the sums in dormant betting accounts.

John Penrose: It has not yet been possible to make an informed estimate of the sums that may be held in dormant betting accounts as such figures are not generally published by betting operators. The Tote has, however, previously advised that the gross figure for uncollected winnings recorded during the financial year 2008-09 was £1.04 million.
	I have asked the hon. Member for Bath (Mr Foster) to compile a report for me into abandoned betting accounts and other unclaimed winnings. The report will seek to consider how much money may be left abandoned in betting accounts and the value of unclaimed winning tickets. The hon. Member for Bath will be meeting interested parties throughout the autumn to gather views and information. He expects to present his findings, along with a possible proposal of new legislation, to me by the end of the year.

Betting Shops: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Mayor of London on licensing of betting shops in London since his appointment.

John Penrose: I have not received any representations from the Mayor of London on licensing of betting shops in London.

Big Lottery Fund: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on the effects on Scotland of the proposed changes to the criteria for the Big Lottery Fund with  (a) the Secretary of State for Scotland,  (b) the Lottery Fund in Scotland,  (c) Scottish Executive Ministers,  (d) the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations and  (e) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

John Penrose: We propose to consult on this shortly, and will include the Big Lottery Fund, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Initial discussions have already taken place between DCMS officials and officials at the Big Lottery Fund, the Scotland Office and the Scottish Executive and the Secretary of State for Scotland recently met the Chief Executive and Scotland Chair of the Big Lottery Fund about this and other lottery proposals.

Big Lottery Fund: Voluntary Organisations

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what proportion of grant money awarded from the Big Lottery Fund went to organisations in the community and voluntary sector in each of the last three financial years.

John Penrose: holding answer 21 July 2010
	In 2004, the Big Lottery Fund gave an undertaking to direct between 60-70% of funding to the voluntary and community sector (VCS). This undertaking has since been increased to 80% of grants. This commitment reflects the view that the VCS is frequently best placed to make funding work for those communities and people most in need.
	The following table sets out the percentage of grants committed to the VCS for the last three financial years.
	
		
			  Financial year  Percentage of grants committed to the VCS( 1) 
			 2009-10 91 
			 2008-09 87 
			 2007-08 68 
			 (1) These percentages include grants awarded though the Awards for All programme. Prior to April 2009, Awards for All was delivered by the Big Lottery Fund and funded by Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. Since April 2009, Awards for All has been delivered and solely funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Big Lottery Fund: Voluntary Organisations

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what grants were awarded by the Big Lottery Fund to  (a) community and voluntary organisations and  (b) other organisations in each constituency in each of the last three financial years.

John Penrose: holding answer 21 July 2010
	A list containing details of each grant awarded in each constituency could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Big Lottery Fund have, however, provided a table that details the total amount of grants committed as proportions of grants committed to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and non-VCS grants in each constituency for each of the last three financial years. This table will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The table includes grants awarded through the Awards for All programme. Prior to April 2009 Awards for All was delivered by the Big Lottery Fund and funded by Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. Since April 2009 Awards for All has been delivered and solely funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Bolton and Quinn

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) Arts Council England has paid to Bolton and Quinn in each year since 1997.

Edward Vaizey: This Department has not paid Bolton and Quinn since 1997. In 2004-05 Arts Council England paid them £11,750 and in 2005-06 £14,363.38.

Broadband: West Yorkshire

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas in Colne Valley constituency.

Edward Vaizey: On 8 June, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport set out the Government's plans for ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe. A transcript of this announcement in its entirety can be accessed via the DCMS website at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/ministers_speeches/7245.aspx
	The Government are committed to making a service level of 2 Mbps available in towns and villages still without a basic level of access. The office charged with delivering this universal service commitment, Broadband Delivery UK, held an industry event on 15 July to provide further information on this commitment. Roll-out of broadband is first and foremost a matter for private sector investors. However, as stated in the Coalition's joint programme for Government, we will seek to introduce superfast broadband in remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas, and pilots will be held in three areas to test the roll-out of superfast broadband in rural areas. The locations of these pilots will be announced later in the year.

Departmental Billing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what percentage of payments made by his Department to  (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and  (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available.

John Penrose: The Department's performance for payment of invoices within 10 working days and within agreed terms to all suppliers in each month from April-June 2010 is set out in the table.
	
		
			   Percentage of payments made within 10 working days  Percentage of payments made within agreed terms 
			 April 98.05 99.25 
			 May 97.37 99.04 
			 June 95.81 99.12 
		
	
	To disaggregate performance by small and medium sized enterprise suppliers would incur disproportionate cost, as the DCMS systems do not record payment data in this way.

Departmental Degrees

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many officials in his Department have a BSc degree in a science or engineering subject.

John Penrose: At this time, DCMS does not record the degree qualifications held by officials.

Departmental Official Cars

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on the Government Car Service since the Government took office;
	(2)  which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State has cancelled contracts for personal Government Car Scheme (GCS) cars for this Department's Ministers. Ministers have made use of green cars, which are provided by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, on an ad hoc basis and we are currently negotiating a final cancellation fee with the GCS.
	The costs Ministers have incurred for taxi, bus and underground train travel for the months they have been in office, are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Minister  Travel expenses post appointment (£) 
			 Jeremy Hunt 412.68 
			 Ed Vaizey 50.00 
			 Hugh Robertson 159.30 
			 John Penrose 175.28 
		
	
	The only expense claimed directly by a Minister is £30.00 for a taxi to/from an event at the Australian high commission by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics.

Departmental Operating Costs

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to reduce the running costs of his Department to date.

John Penrose: The Department has taken steps to reduce its costs in 2010-11 by cutting £800,000 across administrative and pay budgets (including travel and subsistence, ministerial cars, consultancy, training, publicity and overtime); and £750,000 of its own capital expenditure (mainly software upgrades). In addition, it has also reduced by 3% the grants it makes to most of its arm's length bodies and other institutions and programmes funded by the Department.
	We will be taking further steps to reduce administration costs as part of the spending review.

Football

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what criteria he plans to use to assess progress on reforms of football governance;
	(2)  what timetable his Department has set for bringing forward proposals for the reform of football governance.

Hugh Robertson: While it is not for Government to run football, I have made it clear that I want to see the three football authorities working together to address various issues in the game, including the implementation of the Burns Review.
	I will be meeting with the authorities again in the near future to see what progress has been made.

Gambling

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date the Gambling Commission plans to publish the Gambling Prevalence Study 2010.

John Penrose: The Gambling Commission plans to publish the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 in February 2011. Further details are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/research __consultations/research/bgps/bgps_2010.aspx

Gambling: Licensing

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps the Gambling Commission takes to monitor  (a) the annual number of gambling premise licences issued and  (b) the locations in respect of which such licences are granted.

John Penrose: Under the Gambling Act 2005, local authorities are required to inform the Gambling Commission of the grant of an application for a premises licence. This includes details of the location of the premises.

Gaming Machines

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations his Department has received from the British Amusement Catering Trade Association on  (a) the proportion of category B3 arcade machines in amusement arcades and  (b) the stake on category B3 machines; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 21 July 2010,  Official Report, column 333W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).

Gaming Machines

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many B2 gaming machines there were in the UK in each year since 2001.

John Penrose: Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) were reclassified as B2 gaming machines in September 2007 when the Gambling Act 2005 came into effect. No central records of the number of gaming machines were held prior to that, although the Gambling Commission's 2006-07 annual report did contain figures that included an industry estimate of 24,500 FOBTs.
	Since 2007 the Gambling Commission has published figures for all categories of gaming machines, based on industry estimates. For B2 machines these were: 2007-08 27,000; 2008-09 27,500. Figures for 2009-10 are not yet available. This data is available on the Gambling Commission's website at
	http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/gh-about_us/annual_report_and_accounts.aspx

Horserace Totalisator Board: Manpower

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff are employed by the Tote in Wigan constituency.

John Penrose: The Tote currently employs 540 staff in the Wigan area, based in the Tote Park head office and the retail shops in the area.

Local Broadcasting: West Yorkshire

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for local television in West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Government want to see commercially sustainable local television emerge across the UK. The Government recently appointed Nicholas Shott of Lazard Ltd. to look at the necessary conditions for this to happen and consider the ways in which major cities and other areas might sustain local television services. His findings will inform the Government's proposed approach due to be published later this year.

London Review of Books

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding the London Review of Books has received from the Arts Council in each year since 2000.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England has supplied the information in the following table for funding the London Review of Books each full financial year since 2000.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Grant in aid  Lottery  Total 
			 2000-01 14,050 0 14,050 
			 2001-02 14,050 0 14,050 
			 2002-03 14,500 0 14,500 
			 2003-04 14,500 0 14,500 
			 2004-05 14,900 0 14,900 
			 2005-06 15,300 0 15,300 
			 2006-07 20,000 0 20,000 
			 2007-08 20,180 0 20,180 
			 2008-09 20,724 0 20,724 
			 2009-10 21,284 5,000 26,284

National Lottery: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of current recipients in  (a) Scotland and  (b) Glasgow of funding from the Big Lottery Fund which would not meet the new proposed criteria for eligibility for such funding.

John Penrose: holding answer 22 July 2010
	I have made no such estimate. I am proposing to consult shortly on a policy direction that would require the Big Lottery Fund to take account of the need to focus funding on the voluntary and community sector in respect of its UK non-devolved and England expenditure. The Big Lottery Fund's devolved expenditure in Scotland would not be covered by such a direction.

Olympic Games 2012: VAT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on Olympic construction and procurement projects of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax.

Hugh Robertson: The impact of the increase in the rate of VAT, as announced in the June 2010 Emergency Budget, is that the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will be required to pay approximately £45 million in additional VAT. As of 30 June 2010, and taking this additional cost into account, the anticipated final cost for the ODA programme is reduced £6 million since the previous quarter, due to savings achieved by the ODA.

Performing Arts

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will bring forward proposals to place a statutory duty on local authorities to fund performing arts.

Edward Vaizey: It is our view that regulation is not the best way to deliver cultural services at a local level. We want to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that are most appropriate for their area, rather than imposing a one size fits all model of cultural provision. Imposing a statutory duty would also add to burdens placed upon local government at a time when deregulation is a priority.

Theatre

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to provide support for the theatre sector.

Edward Vaizey: We are wholly committed to a strong future for the arts, including support for the theatre sector.
	In 2009-10 Arts Council England invested over £104 million into regularly funded theatre organisations and more than £13 million into theatre through grants for the arts.
	Arts Council England carried out an extensive assessment of the theatre sector in 2009. The findings of this assessment fed into Arts Council England's recent consultation 'Achieving great art for everyone' to help develop a strategic framework for its future investment in the arts, including theatre. The framework will be published in late 2010.

Theatre: Government Assistance

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the contribution to the economy made by subsidised repertory theatre in each year since 1997.

Hugh Robertson: This Department and Arts Council England have made no such estimate, however the Society of London Theatre published the Wyndham Report in 1998. This explored the economic impact of London Theatre.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Billing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of payments made by his Department to  (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and  (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available.

Michael Moore: The Scotland Office does not differentiate between suppliers and endeavours to pay all valid invoices as promptly as possible. The Scotland Office's performance is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  2010  Paid within 10 days  Paid within 30 days 
			 April 96.4 100 
			 May 98.8 100 
			 June 100 100

Electricity: Meters

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his most recent estimate is of the number of households in Scotland which use pre-payment electricity meters.

Michael Moore: Ofgem monitors the performance of domestic electricity and gas suppliers in relation to payment methods. Information is collected from suppliers on a quarterly and annual basis and the data received from suppliers are set out in tables and published on the Ofgem website. The latest information for September 2009 shows there were 485,412 households with pre-payment electricity meters in Scotland.

Graduates: Taxation

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the implications would be for funding of higher education under the Barnett formula in Scotland from introduction of a graduate tax in England.

Michael Moore: An independent review, led by Lord Browne, is currently looking at how universities in England will be funded in the future. Its terms of reference state that it will report in the autumn, before which it would be inappropriate to pre-empt the outcome.

Housing Benefit

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings he has had with  (a) housing associations in Scotland,  (b) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and  (c) Citizens Advice Scotland on the effects of the proposed changes in housing benefit regulations.

Michael Moore: The Department for Work and Pensions has been in contact with the Scottish Government on this matter and published detailed impact assessments of the changes on its website on 23 July.

Merchant Shipping

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 729W, on merchant shipping, what discussions he has had with the Under-Secretary of State for Transport on the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010.

Michael Moore: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr Roy) on 15 July 2010,  Official Report, column 817W.

Minimum Wage

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the effect on those resident in Scotland and in receipt of the national minimum wage of the proposed change to the standard rate of value added tax.

Michael Moore: I have not discussed this issue with the First Minister. The decision to raise the standard rate of value added tax was part of a necessary plan to tackle the largest budget deficit in peacetime history, which this Government inherited. As a result of the action we are taking, basic rate taxpayers will gain from the £1,000 rise in the personal allowance for income tax, and families will gain from increases of £150 and £60 above indexation per year to the child element of the child tax credit in the next two years respectively. The Budget also commits to keeping everyday essentials such as food and children's clothing free from VAT.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Access to Work

Jane Ellison: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals to change the access to work programme to increase opportunities for disabled people to find employment.  [Official Report, 6 September 2010, Vol. 515, c. 1MC.]

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals to change the access to work programme to increase opportunities for disabled people to find employment.

Maria Miller: holding answer 22 July 2010
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to ensuring disabled people are given the support they need to get a job and remain in employment.
	The coalition agreement made a commitment on Access to Work. The Government Equalities Office is developing plans for delivering this commitment and further details will be announced in due course.

Departmental Operating Costs

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken to reduce the running costs of the Government Equalities Office since her appointment.

Lynne Featherstone: The Minister for Women and Equalities has submitted plans for reductions to running costs for the GEO in her submission for the spending review. The Minister has already introduced stringent controls on expenditure in line with Treasury and Cabinet Office guidance on for example recruitment, communications, publishing and media. In addition controls have been introduced on the use of taxis and first class travel for GEO staff.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in her Department in 2009-10.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office paid £5,361,000 in remuneration to civil servants in 2009-10.

EC Law

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will estimate the cost to her Department of compliance with regulations arising from EU obligations in the last 12 months.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office acts in accordance with a wide range of regulation of both EU and domestic origin and it is not standard accounting practice to distinguish regulatory compliance costs from overall running costs. This figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Equalities and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many  (a) men and  (b) women the Equality and Human Rights Commission employs in Scotland.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 22 July 2010
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. The Commission employs 14 men and 32 women in Scotland.

Maternity Leave

Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the practice is of  (a) the Government Equalities Office and  (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission on recruitment of staff to provide cover for female staff who are absent whilst on maternity leave.

Lynne Featherstone: Government Equalities Office's practice when maternity leave is taken is to manage the absence internally, from within the Department's existing staffing resource. Where a temporary replacement is business critical, the vacancy is advertised as maternity leave cover across the civil service, on loan terms.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. Where the vacancy cannot be filled internally, a temporary replacement is sought through the civil service and other non-departmental public bodies.

Women's National Commission

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what plans she has for the Women's National Commission.

Lynne Featherstone: The coalition Government have made clear their commitment to increase the accountability of all public bodies and reduce their number and costs. The Women's National Commission (WNC) is included in this exercise along with many other non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
	My Department, the Government Equalities Office, has written to the chair of the commission, Baroness Gould of Potternewton, inviting the WNC to respond to the three tests which all NDPBs are being assessed against. We are now considering the reply. I have also met with Baroness Gould to discuss the review and listen to her views.
	The review will conclude in the autumn and the result will be made public.

Women's National Commission

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the budget for the Women's National Commission is for 2010-11.

Lynne Featherstone: The Women's National Commission budget for this financial year is £661,000.

WALES

Departmental Billing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of payments made by her Department to  (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and  (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available.

David Jones: The Wales Office payment statistics do not make a split between small and medium-sized suppliers and other suppliers, this information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	The percentage of payments made within 10 days for all suppliers are:
	
		
			   Percentage of payments made within 10 days 
			 April 2010 98.67 
			 May 2010 98.36 
			 June 2010 98.86 
		
	
	Although payment terms for suppliers range between 14 and 30 days, we aim to pay all invoices within 10 days.

Job Creation

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what recent estimate she has made of the number of new companies seeking to locate in Wales;
	(2)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of jobs  (a) created and  (b) safeguarded in the economy by inward investment into Wales in (i) 2009 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

David Jones: As the Prime Minister announced on 22 July 2010, this Government are committed to attracting as much inward investment as possible to the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be focusing on commercial links with the global marketplace and this office is committed to playing its part in drawing as much new investment to Wales as possible.
	The latest figures available published by UKTI show that the number of new jobs created from inward investment in Wales was 3,431 in the financial year 2009-10. The number of safeguarded jobs was 3,931.

Public Expenditure: Cuts

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on projected trends in employment in the public sector in Wales attributable to public expenditure reductions in the next five years.

David Jones: As specific spending plans will be announced in the autumn, following the comprehensive spending review, it has not been possible to produce any forecasts in relation to the impact of public expenditure reductions on Wales.
	In devolved areas of spending, it is for the Welsh Assembly Government to make its own decisions about the allocation of its block grant, including any reductions.

Public Expenditure: Cuts

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if she will discuss with ministerial colleagues the provision of support to those employed in the public sector in Wales who will lose their jobs in the next five years as a result of reductions in departmental expenditure.

David Jones: Both the Secretary of State for Wales and I will continue to have discussions with ministerial colleagues to ensure that any public sector workers affected by reductions in Wales receive all the support that they need.

Public Expenditure: Cuts

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate she has made of the number of jobs to be lost in the public sector in Wales in the next five years.

David Jones: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 19 July 2010,  Official Re port, column 10W. It is premature to make any estimates of the impacts on Wales of the Government's public sector expenditure plans.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department and its predecessor has paid to trade unions in each year since 1997; and what estimate she has made of the monetary value of facilities provided by her Department and its predecessor for use by trade unions in each year since 1997.

David Jones: No payments have been made directly by the Wales Office to trade unions and no estimate has been made of the value of facilities provided.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many paid manpower hours civil servants in her Department and its predecessor spent on trade union-related duties and activities in each year since 1997.

David Jones: One member of staff had 11 hours trade union facility time during 2009-10, in line with the ACAS Code of Practice "Time Off for Trades Union Duties and Activities". We have no information relating to previous years.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants in her Department and its predecessor spent the equivalent of  (a) five days or fewer,  (b) five to 10 days,  (c) 10 to 15 days,  (d) 15 to 20 days,  (e) 20 to 25 days and  (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 1997.

David Jones: One member of staff spent the equivalent of 1.5 days on trade union related activities or duties facility time during the 2009-10 period while employed by the Wales Office. We have no figures for previous years.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Armed Forces

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Afghans from each ethnic group have been recruited to the Afghan National Army; and how many such recruits deserted or otherwise left that army in the last three years;
	(2)  what the  (a) size and  (b) ethnic composition of the Afghan National Army in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Helmand province was (A) in 2007 and (B) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Liam Fox: There are currently 130,000 Afghan National Army (ANA) members of which approximately 10,500 are in Helmand Province. Accurate data on the size of the ANA nationally and in Helmand in 2007 is not available, as we did not start to verify strength figures for the ANA until late 2008.
	The current ethnic composition of the ANA at the national level is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Origin  Percentage of overall ANA 
			 Pashtun 44 
			 Tajik 30 
			 Hazara 11 
			 Uzbek 7 
			 Others 8 
		
	
	We do not hold accurate current data for the ethnic composition of the ANA in Helmand.
	ANA recruitment and retention are matters for the Government of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) uniformed armed forces personnel,  (b) civilian support workers and  (c) contractors were employed in security work in Afghanistan in each of the last 24 months.

Liam Fox: The Ministry of Defence keeps the number of armed forces and civilian personnel deployed to Afghanistan under constant review. Civil servants deploy to Afghanistan to support the armed forces but they are not directly involved in security operations.
	The force levels over the last two years are as follows:
	
		
			   Military  Civilian 
			 July 2008 8,100 40 
			 June 2009 9,000 56 
			 November 2009 9,500 97 
			 July 2010 9,500 133 
		
	
	The Department does not directly contract with private military security companies in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operations involving armed drones have been carried out by UK forces in each year of conflict in Afghanistan; and from which bases the operations were carried out.

Liam Fox: Reaper, operated by the Royal Air Force, is the UK's only armed remotely piloted air system. It entered operational service in October 2007 in Afghanistan and is flown from Kandahar airfield.
	The primary role of Reapers operated by the UK remains intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance but they have had the capability to employ air-to-ground weapons since May 2008.
	
		
			   Weapons use 
			 May to December 2008 28 
			 January to December 2009 42 
			 January to July 2010 27 
			 Total 97

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effects of adoption of a more passive military stance by NATO in Afghanistan on levels of insurgency in Europe.

Liam Fox: NATO has not adopted a more passive military stance; it remains fully committed to the counter-insurgency mission in Afghanistan. International security assistance forces are in Afghanistan to protect our national security by preventing Afghan territory from again being used by al-Qaeda as a base from which to plan attacks on the United Kingdom and our allies.
	We continue to train the Afghan national security forces so that they can assume responsibility for Afghanistan's enduring security as soon as possible.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of casualties caused by enemy action in Afghanistan in the last 12 months were inflicted on routine  (a) foot and  (b) vehicle patrols.

Liam Fox: Of the 134 service personnel killed due to enemy action between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, 115 fatalities occurred during foot patrols, operations to dispose of Improvised Explosive Devices, and other dismounted operations; the remaining 19 fatalities were as a result of attacks on vehicles.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reasons the level of casualties inflicted on routine foot and vehicle patrols in Afghanistan has increased in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason routine foot patrols in Afghanistan have not been discontinued; and if he will make it his policy to  (a) reduce or  (b) discontinue tasking of British service personnel to such patrolling duties.

Liam Fox: We are conducting a counter-insurgency operation in Afghanistan, a key part of which is for troops to interact with the local population, some of which can only be carried out by patrolling on foot or in vehicles. We will not implement a policy on foot patrols that limits the ability of commanders on the ground to fulfil the operation.
	We constantly assess the security situation and try to adapt our tactics in response while trying to reduce the risk to our personnel through measures such as varying the patrol routes and performing drills to help locate improvised explosive devices.
	Despite this, Helmand, where the majority of UK troops are based, remains one of the most violent provinces in Afghanistan. But as security conditions allow, and when the Afghan security forces are ready, international security assistance force troops will increasingly step back from the front line into a supporting role and, over time, will reduce in number. This will be a phased, gradual process and will be subject to careful assessment by commanders on the ground. It is only through close engagement and partnering with the Afghan authorities that we will be able to transfer responsibility for security to the Afghans to deliver a stable country in the long-term.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether officers participate in most routine  (a) foot and  (b) vehicle patrols in Afghanistan.

Liam Fox: Officers share the same risks as the service personnel they command and routinely conduct foot and vehicle patrols with them.

Apache Helicopters

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to the US administration for use of training facilities by UK Apache helicopter pilots in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: The amount to be paid to the US authorities for the use of training facilities by the UK Apache force during the most recent phase of Exercise Crimson Eagle in Arizona between April and July 2010 is estimated at approximately £770,000. This figure includes rates and rents, estate and facilities management, building maintenance and accommodation stores.
	The hot and dry conditions in the West Arizona Aviation Training Site offer ideal preparation for the conditions UK Apache pilots face on operations in Afghanistan. Exercise Crimson Eagle is therefore an essential part of pre-deployment training for both aircrew and ground crew.

Armed Forces: Housing

Rebecca Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many properties his Department rented from the private sector or other providers for the purposes of housing service families in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much his Department has paid to the private sector for rental of accommodation for service families in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many service family accommodation units are in condition  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) four;
	(4)  how many units of service family accommodation there were for armed forces personnel and their families as at 30 June 2010;
	(5)  how many single living accommodation units there were for serving personnel as at 30 June 2010.

Andrew Robathan: As at 30 June 2010, there were 65,019 service family accommodation (SFA) properties worldwide and, as at 31 March 2010 (the latest date for which figures are available), there were 146,813 single living accommodation bed-spaces.
	SFA is assessed for its Standard for Condition (SfC)-a detailed measure of the physical condition of a property with Standard one being the highest and Standard four the lowest. A survey to determine the SfC of SFA in England and Wales is currently being undertaken, with similar surveys planned for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Those UK properties so far surveyed and overseas SFA are at the following SfC:
	
		
			  SfC  Number of UK SFA  Number of overseas SFA 
			 S1fC 14,042 4,391 
			 S2fC 19,270 3,963 
			 S3fC 1,026 4,124 
			 S4fC 201 2,841 
		
	
	While the majority of SFA in Scotland and Northern Ireland are owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), other UK properties are leased from the private sector through various arrangements, including private finance initiatives.
	Where suitable SFA properties do not exist in an area or are temporarily unavailable (as a last resort) Substitute SFA (SSFA) is also rented from the local rental market.
	The total numbers of SFA or SSFA properties in the UK provided through these arrangements and the total costs are only available for the last four years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of SFA  Cost  (£ million)  Number of SSFA  Cost  (£ million) 
			 2006-07 42,884 167 1,279 18 
			 2007-08 42,652 179 1,190 18 
			 2008-09 42,768 184 1,391 20 
			 2009-10 42,060 184 1,524 22 
		
	
	The MOD also currently rents 5,423 SFA properties overseas.
	Information for earlier years regarding the total number of overseas SFA and rental costs is either not available or not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Caribbean: Warships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reduction in his Department's expenditure arose from withdrawal of HMS Iron Duke and RFA Fort George from the Caribbean in December 2009.

Nick Harvey: The temporary withdrawal of the Royal Navy presence from the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) for the six month period outside the hurricane season (June to November), saved approximately £1 million.

Departmental Fire Services

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review his Department's provision of defence fire and rescue services through contractors.

Nick Harvey: At this time there are no specific plans to change the way in which the Ministry of Defence fire and rescue capability is delivered.
	The cross-Government Strategic Defence and Security Review is undertaking a thorough examination of our force structure in order to provide the most effective defence of the UK's interests. This exercise will bring defence policy, plans, commitments and resources into balance, and produce over time a transformative change to British defence. This is a wide-ranging review that will examine all aspects of defence, including options for the future provision of fire services. Decisions will be made in the autumn.

Departmental Fire Services

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what minimum standards his Department sets in respect of the eligibility of his Department's staff and contractors to be employed for fire protection work.

Nick Harvey: Professional fire protection standards are laid down by the Department for Communities and Local Government (fire and rescue service development criteria and National Occupational Standards), legislative requirements and national best practice within the fire and rescue service sector.
	Personnel recruited into the Defence fire and rescue service with no previous experience will undertake a 14 week fire fighter course at the Ministry of Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Manston, which includes a demonstration of competence within the workplace. Personnel with previous experience (e.g. in local authority fire and rescue service) will be subject to a training gap analysis to identify any shortfalls in their skills. The same criteria will apply to contracted personnel.

Departmental ICT

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.

Andrew Robathan: The operating costs of operational, satellite and non-operational information technology and telecommunications, including the related Private Finance Initiative (PFI) service charges from 2005-06, have been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial Year  Expenditure  PFI Service c harges 
			 1997-98 645 - 
			 1998-99 776 - 
			 1999-2000 720 - 
			 2000-01 769 - 
			 2001-02 527 - 
			 2002-03 628 - 
			 2003-04 738 - 
			 2004-05 678 - 
			 2005-06 643 307 
			 2006-07 719 425 
			 2007-08 655 493 
			 2008-09 852 539 
		
	
	These figures represent expenditure by the Department, the on-vote defence agencies and those advisory non-departmental public bodies we sponsor. The figures do not include expenditure by our Trading Funds as they lie outside the departmental accounting boundary. Included in expenditure are IT services, telephone line and equipment rental and minor equipment. The cost of the Defence Fixed Telephone Service is included in the figure for PFI service charges.
	We have published this information in our Annual Report and Accounts since 2001-02, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and are available on line at the following link:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/
	The 2009-10 figures for expenditure and the PFI service charges are intended for publication in our Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts, which were laid before the House on 26 July.

Merlin Helicopters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the eight Merlin helicopters which are exempt from the planned upgrade from Mark one to Mark two.

Peter Luff: The future use of those Merlin Mark one helicopters not upgraded under the Merlin Mark one Capability Sustainment Programme is under review as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Military Aid

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries receive military aid from his Department; what the primary purpose of this aid is in each case; and how much has been given to each in each of the last five years.

Nick Harvey: Military Aid incorporates a broad spectrum of activity co-ordinated through our Defence Attaché network. The overarching aim of all military aid is to strengthen the international security environment through the development of bilateral relationships. The Ministry of Defence does not give cash grants to partner countries for military aid but does use departmental funding to offset the cost of activities to achieve these aims. I refer the hon. Member to the MOD Annual Reports and Accounts which can be found on the MOD website at:
	www.mod.uk
	and which provide information on the funding and the type of activities undertaken for the period requested.

Nuclear Submarines: Accidents

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiry was held into the collision between HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant in February 2009.

Liam Fox: The First Sea Lord commissioned a thorough review of the collision between HMS Vanguard and FS Le Triomphant. The report on the incident, dated May 2009, contains highly classified operational detail concerning the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent and for reasons of national security, it will not be published.

Nuclear Weapons: Finance

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the budget for any future nuclear weapons scheme will be ring-fenced within his Department's budget if it is accounted for in that budget.

Peter Luff: The Government are committed to retaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent based on Trident. Spending review discussions continue until the autumn and consequently no final decisions have yet been taken on the Defence budget.

Rescue Services: Helicopters

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the Statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 17 June 2010,  Official Report, column 1047, on public spending, when he expects the review of the search-and-rescue helicopter replacement project to be completed; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what factors will inform his Department's review of the search-and-rescue helicopter replacement project; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The review of the search and rescue helicopter project is ongoing and is being conducted as a matter of urgency. It is extensive, and is looking at all major aspects of the project. The results of the review, which is being conducted jointly with the Department for Transport, will be announced in due course.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the inclusion of a future nuclear weapons programme in the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Liam Fox: None.
	The Government are committed to retaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent based on Trident. Both the value for money review of the Trident programme and the re-examination of the UK's declaratory nuclear policy are being conducted within the framework of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Trident

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's Investment Approvals Board will next discuss the Trident replacement Initial Gate; when the Board is due to reach a decision on the replacement programme; and if he will place in the Library and publish on his departmental website details of the decision.

Liam Fox: holding answer 22 July 2010
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Katy Clark) on 12 July 2010,  Official Report, column 447W.

Trident

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that parliamentary approval is obtained for any Main Gate decision to commit funds to building a successor system to Trident.

Peter Luff: Main Gate is not expected until around 2014. A decision on how best to consult will be made nearer the time.

United Arab Emirates

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans travelled to the United Arab Emirates in the course of his official duties between October 2008 and May 2010; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each visit.

Andrew Robathan: None.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) discussions,  (b) meetings and  (c) exchanges of correspondence he has had with the Mayor of London on affordable homes in London since his appointment.

Andrew Stunell: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government met the Mayor of London on 30 June 2010 to discuss a number of housing issues, including affordable housing.
	The Mayor of London wrote to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill) on 17 May 2010 about the replacement London Plan, including a number of housing proposals in the Plan. My hon. Friend replied to the Mayor on 16 June 2010.
	In addition there has been correspondence and meetings between the Mayor and Ministers about the further devolution of power to London, including the proposal that responsibility for the Homes and Communities Agency in London be transferred to the Mayor.

Central Heating: Building Regulations

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he took of the specification of efficiency standards for central heating circulation pumps his Department undertook prior to the publication of revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations 2010.

Andrew Stunell: The amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations due to come into force in October 2010 were made by the previous Government following public consultation. The consultation document published in June 2009 contained a proposal that guidance be introduced that new and replacement stand-alone circulator pumps should have a minimum Band C rating. The final technical guidance published in April set out that circulator pumps should have an energy label only, on the basis that there will be a European requirement for all stand-alone circulator pumps placed on the market to be updated to Band A from 2013.

Council Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) individuals and  (b) households were assisted with housing by local authority social services, adult services and children's services departments in each of the last three years.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 22 July 2010
	Data on the number of adults (aged 18 and over) in receipt of local authority funded registered residential and nursing care is collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
	The following table shows the number of adults aged 18 and over in receipt of local authority funded registered residential and nursing care as at 31 March 2007, 2008 and 2009.
	
		
			   Total of all supported residents 
			 2007 247,300 
			 2008 236,100 
			 2009 229,900 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include registered unstaffed homes, voluntary and private registered residential care homes and general and mental nursing homes. 2. Data includes Boyd loophole residents and those clients formerly in receipt of preserved rights. 
		
	
	Information on the number of individuals aged less than 18 who are in receipt of local authority funded registered care is not available from this Department.

Council Tax: Exemptions

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues on the  (a) publication of information about and  (b) registration with local authorities of dwellings exempted from payment of council tax by virtue of being places of public religious worship.

Bob Neill: There is no exemption from council tax for places of public religious worship. However, properties used for public religious worship may be exempt from non-domestic rates.

Departmental Billing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Department does not hold any information about the time taken by its contractors to pay invoices from their sub-contractors.
	OGC is establishing a voluntary charter with suppliers in 2010 which will cover mutual commitments on a range of policy agendas that Government are pursuing through public procurement including SMEs. The charter will include commitments from signatory suppliers to open appropriate sub-contracting opportunities to SMEs and to pass on favourable terms, including prompt payment, in supply chains.
	We will issue guidance to category managers in Corporate Procurement Division (CPD) encouraging this approach when the charter is in place.

Departmental Internet

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies spent on search engine biasing with (i) Google and (ii) other search engines in each of the last five years.

Bob Neill: The Department conducts its paid search activity through the Central Office of Information (COI). Their records indicate that the Department spent the following amounts on paid search over the last two financial years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 537,366 
			 2009-10 221,107 
		
	
	The costs were incurred on activity to promote the following campaign websites:
	2008-09-Home Buying And Selling (including Home Information Packs), Fire Kills, Mortgage Help and Preventing Repossessions, HomeBuy, Eco-towns, Energy Performance Certificates.
	2009-10-Mortgage Help and Preventing Repossessions, Fire Kills, Fire Careers.
	COI do not maintain central records for paid search activity for the years prior to 2009-10, nor do their central records distinguish between search engines used.
	The Department does not hold records for paid search activity conducted by its agencies.

Departmental Lost Property

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what property has been recorded as  (a) lost and  (b) stolen from the Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property.

Bob Neill: The property recorded as either  (a) lost or  (b) stolen from the Department for Communities and Local Government in the last 12 months and the estimated cost of the replacement of that property is as follows:
	Within the last 12 months, under the previous Government, the departmental property reported as lost or stolen was as follows:
	 Lost:
	Nil
	 Stolen:
	Five BlackBerrys valued at approximately £1,000 (£200 each)(1)
	Six laptop computers valued at approximately £6,000 (£1,000 each)(1)
	Two mobile phones valued at approximately £250 in total
	One mobile phone charger valued at approximately £10
	One laptop log in key (stolen from staff home address) valued at approximately £70
	One memory stick valued at approximately £20
	Under the current Government departmental property reported as lost or stolen is as follows:
	 Lost:
	Nil
	 Stolen:
	Six laptops valued at approximately £6,000 (£1000 each).
	Employees' or contractors' property reported as lost or stolen during the period and under the previous Government was as follows:
	 Lost:
	One Apple I Phone
	 Stolen:
	One bottle of aftershave
	One purse
	Two mobile phones
	One mobile phone charger
	One laptop
	Two memory sticks
	Two power leads
	In no cases did replacement costs fall to the Department.
	No employee or contractor's property has been reported lost or stolen since the general election of 6 May 2010
	(1) None of the information contained on the laptop computers or BlackBerrys was classified. However, each laptop and the BlackBerrys were encrypted and password protected.

Departmental Marketing

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the FOI disclosure of August 2009 listing spending on logo design over the last five years. Available via:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/foi/disclosure-log/disclosurelog2009/brandinglogodesign

Departmental Official Cars

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on the Government Car Service since the Government took office.

Bob Neill: The Department has spent £62,136 with the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA) on car services. This figure relates to invoices posted since 12 May 2010 up to and including 12 July 2010. In the year 2009-10 the Department spent £488,276 with the GCDA. Pro-rota, this is less than the last Government, and my Department is taking further steps to deliver efficiency savings in this area.

Departmental Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period.

Bob Neill: The Department has spent £62,136 with the Government Car and Dispatch Agency on car services. This figure relates to invoices posted since 12 May 2010 up to and including 12 July 2010. In the year 2009-10 the Department spent £488,276 with the GCDA. Pro-rota, this is less than the last Government, and my Department is taking further steps to deliver efficiency savings in this area.

Disadvantaged: Hyndburn

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the relative level of deprivation in Hyndburn constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Indices of Deprivation 2007, combines a number of indicators into a single deprivation score for each small area in England, this allows each area to be ranked relative to one another according to their level of deprivation.
	Since 2004 the Indices of Deprivation have been produced for all 32,482 neighbourhoods (Lower level Super Output Areas-LSOA) in England. With an average population of 1,500 people, LSOAs are smaller than constituencies thus allowing small pockets of deprivation to be identified.
	The results for LSOAs which lie within the boundaries of Hyndburn local authority can be downloaded from the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/zip/indices2007.zip
	Hyndburn local authority contains 53 LSOAs of which 10 areas have an overall IMD score that puts them among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Table 1 shows the proportion of Hyndburn's LSOAs and population that fall into each of the IMD deciles.
	
		
			  Neighbourhoods and population of Hyndburn LA in IMD 2007 deciles 
			  IMD 2007 Deciles  Number of LSOAs  Mid 2005 population estimates  Percentage of population 
			 1 (most deprived) 10 15,615 19 
			 2 8 12,138 15 
			 3 10 14,583 18 
			 4 5 8,226 10 
			 5 6 9,192 11 
			 6 2 2,988 4 
			 7 6 9,276 11 
			 8 4 7,230 9 
			 9 2 2,982 4 
			 10 (least deprived) 0 0 0 
			 Total 53 82,230 - 
		
	
	The Department also publish six summary indicators for local authorities. There are six measures because there is no single best way of describing deprivation across large areas, such as local authority districts. This is due to the difficulties associated with describing or comparing places with different population sizes and patterns of deprivation. The six summary measures cover various different aspects of multiple deprivation so when considered together give a good overall impression of deprivation in the district. The six summary measures are; Average Score, Average Rank, Extent, Local Concentration, Income Scale, and Employment Scale. A description of what these indicators represent can be found in the Indices of Deprivation 2007 Report available from the Department website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/indiciesdeprivation07
	The local authority summary indicators are available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/commun:ities/xls/576504.xls

East of England Faiths Council: Finance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what public funding has been provided for the East of England Faiths Council in each of the last three year for which figures are available.

Andrew Stunell: Communities and Local Government has made the following funding available to the East of England Faiths Council in the last three financial years:
	in 2007-08 a grant of £12,000 from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund;
	in 2008-09 four grants totalling £21,362 towards specific projects and a core grant of £70,000;
	in 2009-10 a core grant of £70,000 and a grant of £5,000 towards support for Inter Faith Week 2009.
	A further core grant of up to £70,000 is available in the current financial year (a commitment made by the previous Government).

Fires

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fires  (a) in Harlow and  (b) in private rented properties in England and Wales were attributable to faults in electrical installations and products in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: Fire incident data are available up to September 2009, but only to Fire and Rescue Authority level, and dwelling tenure details are not collected under the Fire and Rescue Incident Recording System. Therefore the data in the table are for all dwellings and for Essex rather than Harlow.
	
		
			  Fires in dwellings attributable to faults in electrical installations and products, October 2008-September 2009 
			   Number 
			 Essex 173 
			 England 7,098 
			 England and Wales 7,494 
			  Source:  Fire and rescue incident records

Government Office for the North West

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of the Government Office for the North West; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement on regional Government made on 22 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 27-8WS.

Homelessness

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of households applying to local authority housing departments as homeless were found to be intentionally homeless in each of the last five years.

Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Quarterly statistical releases on statutory homelessness published by CLG present national and regional data for the last 10 years. Summary information at local authority level, including the number of households accepted as owed the main duty and the number of households in temporary accommodation, is also published each quarter in an associated supplementary table. The latest (10 June 2010) release and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website. The next release is due to be published on 9 September 2010.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Information is collected by the Department on the number of applicant households found to be intentionally homeless and in priority need. The figures are provided in the following table. These do not include those that are intentionally homeless and not in priority need. Percentages are given as a proportion of all homelessness applicants.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of applicant households found to be intentionally homeless and in priority need, England, 2005-06 to 2009-10 
			   Applicant households found to be intentionally homeless and in priority need  
			   Number  Percentage (%)  Total number of applicants( 1) 
			 2005-06 13,260 6 213,290 
			 2006-07 10,930 7 159,330 
			 2007-08 9,560 7 130,840 
			 2008-09 8,640 8 112,900 
			 2009-10 6,580 7 89,120 
			 (1) Excludes ineligible applicants.   Note:  Figures for 2009-10 are provisional.   Source: Quarterly P1E form returns.

Homelessness: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people applying to the London borough of Bexley for local authority housing were found to be intentionally homeless in each of the last five years.

Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	A table has been placed in the Library of the House giving numbers for all local authorities in England, including the London borough of Bexley.
	The Department only collects figures for the number of applicant households found to be intentionally homeless 'and' in priority need. Therefore the figures do not include those that are intentionally homeless and not in priority need.

Homelessness: Young People

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of people aged 18 to 24 years old who are homeless.

Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Figures broken down by age of households are only available for applicants accepted as owed a main homelessness duty, that is eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need.
	Figures can be provided only for the age bracket 16 to 24 rather than 18 to 24.
	In 2009-10 there were 15,510 applicants aged 16 to 24 owed a main homelessness duty.

Housing: Construction

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what allocation his Department has made for Kickstart funding for the Anfield/Brookfield regeneration area.

Andrew Stunell: The coalition Government remains strongly committed to reducing the United Kingdom's budget deficit and the announcement by the Chief Secretary on the 5 July 2010 confirmed that the Department has agreed to a £220 million reduction in its claim for end year flexibility this year. Given public sector borrowing in 2010-11 was forecast to hit £167 billion such levels of spending on 'borrowed money' was unsustainable-contributing to the forecast £1.4 trillion of public debt by 2014. However, the Government remain committed to the provision of affordable housing and has been able to secure £1.25 billion of the previous administration's £1.5 billion housing pledge.
	This will enable the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to meet all existing contractual commitments and will be able to progress some programmes that have been paused while the funding position was under review. The HCA's regional offices will be assessing which other schemes can be progressed, including the Kickstart project for the Anfield and Brookfield regeneration area, with the aim of maximising affordable housing and achieving best value for money. The objective is to give interested parties clarity as quickly as possible.

Housing: Dorset

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency  (a) contain asbestos and  (b) were built between 1950 and 1999.

Andrew Stunell: The information is not available from my Department.

Local Government Services: Tees Valley

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will hold discussions to seek to ensure that all local government services in the Tees Valley sub-region identify themselves with reference to a single identity.

Bob Neill: I am aware that Tees Valley has a well established history of partnership working across local government and business, and that it has been exploring potential to form a local enterprise partnership. The Government will be very happy to receive such a proposal, if that is the wish of local authorities and local businesses in the area.

Local Government: Lobbying

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the retention and use of lobbying companies for the provision of lobbying and support services to campaign for increased funding.

Bob Neill: The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, to which councils are statutorily required to have regard, states that councils should ensure the greatest cost effectiveness in all their publicity and makes clear that public funds should not be used for publicity campaigns intended to persuade the public to hold a particular view on a question of policy.
	The Code of Recommended Practice is shortly to be updated. Subject to consultation, we are minded to include stronger guidance to stop the wasteful and unhealthy practice of councils, funded by local or national taxpayers, paying for lobbyists to lobby Government. My Department has already issued guidance to its arms length bodies to cancel their contracts with lobbyists.

Migration Impacts Fund

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grants were issued from the Migration Impacts fund in 2009-10; and how much was so distributed.

Andrew Stunell: 158 grant payments were made from the Migration Impacts Fund in 2009-10.
	122 of these were made to local authorities, 20 to voluntary bodies, nine to Primary Care Trusts and seven to other bodies including further education colleges. Some local authority grants will have supported more than one project.
	The total distributed was £28,223,279.
	£25,466,648 of this went to local authorities, £1,762,518 to voluntary bodies, £493,000 to Primary Care Trusts and £501,113 to the remainder.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to make provision in the Decentralism and Localism Bill for planning procedures for multiple occupancy housing.

Greg Clark: The Minister for Housing (Grant Shapps) announced on 17 June his intention to amend the planning rules relating to houses in multiple occupation. Any changes will be made by secondary legislation.

Non-domestic Rates

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the  (a) cost and  (b) net present value is of the policy in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme;
	(2)  how many businesses are covered by the policy in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills for newly assessed properties that were split from a larger rateable property; how many are not covered by this definition but have received backdated bills; and what the total liabilities are of both categories.

Grant Shapps: Estimates published by HMT for the June 2010 Budget gave figures for the cost of waiving certain backdated business rate bills:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf
	These costs will be assessed again, and the questions on the number of businesses affected and their liability addressed, in the impact assessment that will accompany the regulations for the cancellation of backdated business rates.

Non-domestic Rates

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) businesses,  (b) port-based businesses and  (c) non port-based businesses (i) in each local government district and (ii) in total will receive assistance under the policy in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme.

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) businesses,  (b) port-based businesses and  (c) non port-based businesses (i) in each local government district and (ii) in total will receive assistance under the proposal in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme.

Grant Shapps: It is estimated that around 3,000 properties in England could benefit from the policy published in the Budget June 2010 to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. No estimates of these figures are available at a local authority level. Informal inquiries with local authorities estimate that around 700 port-based properties could benefit from the policy published in the Budget June 2010 to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. Available information for individual port areas was given in a press release issued on the 20 July 2010 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/localgovernment/1644201
	These unfair, retrospective rates bill threatened to devastate the export industry which would seriously impact the manufacturing sector. Businesses and their customers can look forward with confidence to the future, unburdened from and no longer distracted by the imposition of unfair taxes that have damaged the industry's competitive advantage.

Non-domestic Rates

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses which are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme arising from the backdating of business rates are on a schedule of payments.

Grant Shapps: Information on how many properties have been granted a schedule of payments agreement is currently being collected from local authorities, and the results are planned to be published in September 2010.

Non-domestic Rates

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the businesses which are on the eight-year schedule of payments scheme arising from the backdating of business rates, what the total liability was  (a) at the commencement of the schedule of payments and  (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and how much backdated business rate has been paid back.

Grant Shapps: Estimates for the total backdated liability for national non-domestic rates that could apply for a schedule of payments appear in the impact assessments for the initial schedule of payments and the subsequent payment freeze. Information on how much backdated liability is covered by a schedule of payments and how much has already been paid back is not currently available. Information on how many properties have been granted an eight-year schedule of payments and the reduction in liability due to the schedule of payments is currently being collected from local authorities, and the results are planned to be published in September 2010.
	The links to the impact assessments referred to are:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/em/uksiem_20090204_en.pdf
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/em/uksiem_20101507_en.pdf

Non-domestic Rates

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether businesses that have paid some or all of the backdated rates that are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme will be  (a) refunded and  (b) refunded the full amount each business has paid to date under the policy announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates.

Grant Shapps: Businesses that have made payments towards a qualifying backdated rates bill, that will be cancelled, will be entitled to a refund of all monies that have already been paid. It will need primary legislation to cancel these bills and before any refunds can be granted. We will find the earliest opportunity for taking forward the necessary legislation, this will provide a vital lifeline to struggling firms who were facing balance sheet insolvency because of the unfair, retrospective taxes. For example, in the right hon. Member's own local authority of Southampton, 26 properties will be saved from a cumulative backdated liability of £3 million.

Non-domestic Rates

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much will be refunded to businesses that had already paid some or all of the backdated rates under the policy announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates.

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much will be refunded to businesses that had already paid some or all of the backdated rates under the proposal announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates.

Grant Shapps: Initial estimates for the June 2010 Budget suggested that around £50 million could be refunded. Further estimates will appear in the impact assessment that will accompany the regulations for the cancellation of backdated business rates in due course.

Non-domestic Rates

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether businesses that have paid some or all of the backdated rates that are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme will be  (a) refunded and  (b) refunded the full amount each business has paid to date under the proposal announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates.

Bob Neill: Businesses that have made payments towards a qualifying backdated rates bill, that will be cancelled, will be entitled to a refund of all monies that have already been paid. It will need primary legislation to cancel these bills and before any refunds can be granted. We will find the earliest opportunity for taking forward the necessary legislation.

Non-domestic Rates

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses which are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme arising from the backdating of business rates are on a schedule of payments.

Bob Neill: Information on how many properties have been granted a schedule of payments agreement is currently being collected from local authorities, and the results are planned to be published in September 2010.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has issued to the Planning Inspectorate in respect of the planning application in Tolleshunt Knights (appeal reference: APP/X1545/A/10/2130723/NWF); and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I cannot comment on individual planning applications. This matter is for the Planning Inspectorate. The Secretary of State published advice to local authorities and the Planning Inspectorate when he revoked regional strategies on 6 July. The advice is clear that regional strategies are no longer part of the statutory development plan. The Planning Inspectorate has ensured that all inspectors are aware of this advice.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will direct the Planning Inspectorate considering the planning application in Tolleshunt Knights (appeal reference: APP/X1545/A/10/2130723/NWF) to take into account his decision to end regional spatial strategies; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I cannot comment on individual planning applications; this matter is for the Planning Inspectorate. We published advice to local authorities and the Planning Inspectorate when we revoked regional strategies on 6 July. The advice is clear that regional strategies are no longer part of the statutory Development Plan and should no longer be treated as such when making planning decisions.

Private Rented Housing

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to  (a) promote responsible letting and  (b) deal with rogue landlords.

Andrew Stunell: This Government are keen to encourage responsible letting through the use of voluntary accreditation schemes for landlords and letting agents. These can offer landlords the benefit of a market advantage and tenants a guaranteed standard of accommodation and service. My Department is working with the leading industry bodies to examine what might be done to increase the use of voluntary schemes by landlords and agents. Local authorities already have extensive powers to take action against rogue landlords. We will work with them to ensure that any barriers to them using those powers are lifted.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the status is of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister draft circular 01/2006 (Gypsy and Traveller sites); whether he plans to bring forward proposals to replace it.

Andrew Stunell: Since regional strategies have been revoked, the level of pitch provision should now be determined locally. We intend to replace this circular with new light-touch guidance as part of a broader package of reforms to ensure fair play in the planning system.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to introduce legislative proposals to strengthen the powers of local councils to remove people who are illegally encamped; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 19 July 2010
	We will be giving councils more powers to tackle unauthorised development to ensure fair play in the planning system. We have already written to councils about the importance of bank holiday enforcement; we have revoked the top-down regional targets that have worsened community relations; and we will be introducing new planning guidance and reformed planning laws later this year.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund  (a) nationally and  (b) in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Government will consider the future of all programmes, including the Working Neighbourhood Fund, as part of the current spending review process.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when each of the overseas establishments approved by her to export dogs for use in scientific procedures to the UK was last inspected by inspectors from the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate; how frequently such inspections occur; and what arrangements her Department makes with third parties for the inspection of such establishments;
	(2)  how many overseas supplying establishments are approved to export dogs to the UK for use in scientific procedures; and in which country each is based.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has no authority to approve suppliers of dogs for use in scientific procedures located outside the United Kingdom. If suitable dogs are not available from a designated breeding establishment in the UK an application can be made to acquire them from overseas breeding sources. Assurances are sought from the project licence holder on the standards of husbandry and care at the overseas breeding establishment and permission to acquire is given on a case by case basis.
	From the information available, since 2004-05, dogs have been sourced from European breeding centres in Italy, France, Spain, and Holland and from the United States. Centres in the United States, France and Italy have been visited in the past by members of the Inspectorate to confirm that information provided to the Home Office was accurate and that husbandry and care practices were satisfactory.

Animal Experiments

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the testing of household products on animals.

Lynne Featherstone: The coalition Government have pledged to end the testing of household products on animals. Work is under way to define the range of products affected and to determine how an end to such testing can best be achieved.

Animal Experiments: Licensing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences her Department has issued allowing the use of the mouse/rat bioassay (MBA/RBA) method to detect marine biotoxins in shellfish; on what date each such licence was issued; in respect of which  (a) shellfish species and  (b) toxin groups each licence since June 2000 was granted; how many such licences were revoked during the period; and on what dates; and what procedure her Department has used to develop new guidelines for the detection of marine biotoxins without recourse to MBA/RBA methods.

Lynne Featherstone: Currently there is one project licence granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 allowing the use of the mouse/rat bioassay (MBA/RBA) method to detect and quantify marine biotoxins in shellfish. This licence was granted on the 28 May 2009.
	Regulations EC 2074/2005, EC853/2004 and EC854/2004 set out the relevant EU requirements.
	Under the authority of the current project licence animals are only used with the intention of detecting and quantifying toxins specified in the EU regulations as paralytic shellfish (PSP) toxins and lipophilic toxins, otherwise known as DSP.
	Since 2000, the more commonly tested species were mussels, pacific and native oysters, cockles, razors and king and queen scallops.
	Since June 2000 four project licences allowing the use of the mouse/rat bioassay (MBA/RBA) method to detect marine biotoxins in shellfish have been revoked. From the information available to us they were revoked during either 2000 or 2001, May 2004, 2006 and May 2009.
	The Home Office is not party to the development of new guidelines for the detection of marine biotoxins without recourse to MBA/RBA methods, but Home Office experts have contributed to an European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) task force on reducing, refining and replacing animal use for this purpose. We also continue to work with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in their re-defined role of overseeing food safety which includes shell fish testing.
	The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate works with other regulators in the UK and Europe and with the testing laboratories in order to reduce the numbers of animals used in these tests and to refine the methodology where animal testing is still used.

Asylum

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to provide guidance on the application of immigration rules to those people granted refugee status from 2005 who must apply for further leave to remain in order to ensure that they will not lose their benefit, housing and voting entitlements.

Damian Green: holding answer 12 July 2010
	Individuals granted a limited period of five years' refugee status or humanitarian protection since August 2005 will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain from August 2010, in the month before their leave expires.
	An application form and information for such individuals on how to apply for settlement is available on the UK Border Agency website. Guidance for officials on considering such applications will also be published on the website shortly.
	The UK Border Agency will write to those eligible at the most recently provided address, reminding them of the need to apply. The Agency is also working closely with its corporate partners to communicate the application arrangements as widely as possible.

Asylum

Phil Woolas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on the costs of asylum support of the change in the number of people granted asylum in the last 12 months.

Damian Green: The number of main applicants for asylum declined from 27,670 in the 2008-09 financial year to 20,220 in 2009-10. In 2008-09, the total cost of asylum support (excluding UASCs and grants) was £313 million, while in 2009-10 it was £312 million.

Asylum

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to process asylum applications made prior to 2010.

Damian Green: In April 2007 the UK Border Agency established a dedicated resource to clear the backlog of older asylum cases that were lodged prior to March 2007. It was estimated in July 2006 that the backlog stood at between 400-450,000 "legacy" cases. The Case Resolution Directorate had concluded around 277,000 cases up until the end of May 2010 and should complete the remainder of these cases by summer 2011 or earlier.
	Applications lodged since March 2007 have been dealt with by case owners in teams based in each of the regions around the UK. Those which were not concluded within the six months target remain in those local teams where the progress of each case continues to be managed by a case owner.

Asylum: Deportation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers awaiting deportation are in prison.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency seeks to deport foreign national offenders who meet the following criteria for deportation:
	A court recommendation;
	For non-European Economic Area nationals-a custodial sentence of 12 months or more either in one sentence, or as an aggregate of two or three sentences over a period of five years or a custodial sentence of any length for a drug offence (other than possession);
	For EEA nationals-a custodial sentence of 12 months or more for an offence involving drugs, violent or sexual crimes or a custodial sentence of 24 months or more for other offences.
	At the point where no barriers to removal exist, the UK Border Agency will set a direction to remove. According to provisional management information, on 16 July 2010 approximately 140 foreign nationals who met the relevant deportation criteria had removal directions set against them.
	Of these, approximately 30% had also submitted a claim for asylum at some stage prior to the removal direction being set and approximately 80% of those who had submitted a claim for asylum were detained either in an immigration removal centre or prison.

British Nationality

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time to process an application for naturalisation was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 July 2010
	The average processing time for naturalisation applications in June 2010 was 1.45 months.
	This information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

British Nationality: Citizenship

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether second-generation descendants of former residents of the British Indian Ocean Territory are entitled to British citizenship.

Damian Green: There are no automatic routes by which second generation descendants of former residents of the British Indian Ocean Territory can acquire British citizenship. They can apply for citizenship through registration, or naturalisation if over the age of 18, based on a period of residence in the United Kingdom.
	A person born stateless outside of the United Kingdom and overseas territories to a British Overseas Territories citizen may apply for registration as a British overseas territories citizen under schedule 2 of the British Nationality Act 1981 following a period of residence in the UK or an overseas territory immediately before the application. After acquiring British overseas territories citizenship in this way they may subsequently apply for full British citizenship.

Citizenship

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which road traffic offences the UK Border Agency will normally disregard in considering an application for UK citizenship; what guidance the Agency issues on this matter; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: An applicant for British citizenship is expected to be of good character. Although "good character" is not defined within the British Nationality Act 1981, UK Border Agency (UKBA) would not normally expect to naturalise a person with an unspent conviction. There is however some discretion to overlook minor offences.
	Where the applicant is of good character in all other respects, UKBA would normally be prepared to overlook a single minor unspent conviction resulting in a bind-over order, absolute or conditional discharge, admonition, relatively small fine or compensation order, or a fixed penalty notice or Scottish fiscal fines. They would not, however, normally disregard any unspent conviction that involved dishonesty or recklessness.
	In terms of traffic offences, offences which would constitute "recklessness" would include offences such as drink-driving, excessive speeding, driving without tax or insurance with no reasonable excuse, or driving while using a mobile phone. Driving offences that might be disregarded are those that might be committed inadvertently, such as minor speeding, stopping in a box junction or going the wrong way down a one way street.
	Guidance on the good character requirement is published on the UKBA website at:
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/nationalityinstructions/nichapter18/ch18annexd?view=Binary

Crime

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the attrition rate for  (a) theft,  (b) burglary of a dwelling and  (c) offences of domestic violence was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: Attrition is not a term which is formally defined in criminal justice statistics although in the past there has been one in common usage which relates to the ratio of convictions to offences recorded. In terms of police recorded crime, to achieve such an 'attrition' measure would require using two data sources which are not directly comparable. Within the current data collections, it is not possible to track individual offences through to any conclusion at court and there are important differences between the two data sources which prevent meaningful comparison.
	The Home Office police recorded crime data are based on the number of offences recorded in each financial year. Prosecutions and convictions data are collected by the Ministry of Justice and are based on the number of offenders proceeded against. These data are published on a calendar year basis and are counts of persons classified by their principal offence. For these reasons the two datasets are not directly comparable.

Detainees: Torture

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the way in which survivors of torture designated for removal are treated by the United Kingdom Border Agency in removal centres and throughout the removal process.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency takes the welfare of those held in its removal centres very seriously. For this reason, centres are operated in accordance with the detention centre rules and a set of operating standards.
	All detainees receive a healthcare screening, normally with a nurse, within two hours of arrival in an immigration removal centre, during which they are asked if they have been the victim of torture. Where a detainee gives a positive answer, healthcare notify the UK Border Agency's case owner, who considers whether in light of the information the detainee should be released.
	Representations made by legal representatives, including medical reports submitted by independent doctors or organisations who are experienced in identifying persons who have been tortured, are also considered by the UK Border Agency, and in particular whether it is appropriate to maintain detention. Where the UK Border Agency accepts that a person has been the victim of torture, he or she is normally released. However, there are a number of circumstances in which detention of an alleged or actual victim of torture may nonetheless be appropriate. These may be for reasons of public protection where a person has been convicted of a crime, those who have persistently failed to abide by the terms of their release conditions, and in order to effect removal.
	I am not proposing to review the procedures further at this time.

English Language

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 11-12WS, on English language requirement, whether she expects the English language requirement for migrants applying to join a spouse in the UK to be in place by 30 September 2010.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 July 2010
	On 26 July 2010 the Government announced that this policy would come into force via a change to the Immigration Rules on 29 November 2010. It will not therefore be in place by 30 September 2010.

Entry Clearances

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations her Department has received on its decision to refuse entry to the UK to members of the Iroquois lacrosse team using travel documents issued by the Iroquois Confederacy; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 20 July 2010
	The Iroquois lacrosse team have not yet sought leave to enter the United Kingdom and therefore have not been refused leave to enter.
	The UK Border Agency has received representations from the US authorities and legal representatives on behalf of the Iroquois lacrosse team about the acceptability of their travel documents. The United Kingdom is unable to recognise the Haudenousanee passport as a valid immigration document which can be used for entry to the UK.
	We remain very keen to work with the US authorities and the Iroquois people to facilitate the team's travel for any future occasions that they wish to enter the UK.

Entry Clearances

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances her Department considers representations from hon. Members on the refusal of visitor visas; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 20 July 2010
	We will always give full consideration to representations from hon. Members about visit visa refusals, and any other entry clearance decision.
	The refusal of a visit visa for a family visit attracts a full right of appeal and the applicant will normally be expected to exercise their right of appeal in order for the decision to be reviewed. Any representations from hon. Members will be taken fully into consideration, along with the grounds of appeal and any additional supporting documentation.
	If it can be shown that there are exceptional or compelling compassionate circumstances involved, or that a decision is clearly flawed, we will be happy to review a decision outside the appeal process in the light of representations from hon. Members.

Entry Clearances

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to ensure that representations from hon. Members on refusals of visitor visas are referred to the relevant entry clearance manager in advance of the applicant exercising their right to appeal in cases where the applicant wishes to attend an imminent event.

Damian Green: holding answer 20 July 2010
	I assume that the hon. Member is referring to family visitors as, unlike other categories of visitor, they have a full right of appeal in the event of a refusal of entry clearance.
	Where an applicant wishes to attend a family event in the UK and (a) has been refused a visit visa and (b) due to the imminence of the event is concerned that there is insufficient time to appeal against the decision, we would normally advise them that they may wish to re-apply, ensuring that, when they do so, they fully address the entry clearance officer's concerns about their original application, as detailed on the formal Notice of Refusal.
	Representations from hon. Members in such cases should normally be provided to their constituents, so that the applicant can submit them along with other supporting documentation when re-applying.
	Exceptionally, we will forward representations from hon. Members to an entry clearance manager for consideration outside the appeal process, e.g. where there are clearly compelling, compassionate circumstances. Compelling compassionate circumstances would normally be considered to be the death or serious illness of a close family member.

Entry Clearances

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the relevant entry clearance manager is directed to review a visitor visa case when representations are made by hon. Members to the UK Border Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 20 July 2010
	An entry clearance manager will normally only be asked to review a decision to refuse a visit visa application following representations from hon. Members if there are exceptional or compelling compassionate circumstances involved, or if the decision is clearly flawed. Applicants who intended to visit family in the UK can achieve a review of the decision by exercising their right of appeal.
	Their grounds of appeal, and any additional supporting documentation submitted, will be taken fully into account. The way forward for other visit visa applicants would be to re-apply, ensuring that they address the concerns about their previous application when doing so.

Entry Clearances

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spouse visas her Department issued to people entering the UK from Pakistan in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The number of spouse visas issued to nationals of Pakistan in each of the last five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Spouse visas issued to Pakistani nationals 
			 2005-06 9,805 
			 2006-07 10,935 
			 2007-08 10,846 
			 2008-09 8,239 
			 2009-10 5,642 
			  Note: This information is based on Management Information. It is provisional and subject to change.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spouse visas her Department issued to people coming from each foreign country other than Pakistan in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The number of spouse visas issued to nationals of each non-EEA country other than Pakistan, in each of the financial years 2005-06 to 2009-10, is given in the table which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal migrants identified in the last 12 months were sponsored by institutions  (a) accredited by the British Council and  (b) inspected by Ofsted.

Damian Green: The information requested is not centrally recorded and could be obtained by a manual check of individual case records only at disproportionate cost.

Entry Clearances: Skilled Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) migrants and  (b) dependants of migrants were given leave to enter the UK under (i) the highly skilled migrants programme and (ii) Tier 1 of the points-based immigration system in each quarter since the inception of the system.

Damian Green: The information requested by my hon. Friend is given in the published Quarterly Control of Immigration Statistics, which is available on our Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds
	Please refer to table 1.1: entry clearance visas issued by category, in each quarter since January 2007 to March 2010.

Entry Clearances: Skilled Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which 20 non-EU nationalities have received the most work permits for  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses under the points-based immigration system since the inception of the system.

Damian Green: The number of work permits issued for each of the requested categories are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Top 20 non-EU nationalities based on COS Used by Occupation Codes: Doctors and Nurses: 28 November 2008-20 July 2010 
			  Occupation  Nationality  2008  2009  2010  Total 
			 Doctors India (1)- 605 355 960 
			  Pakistan 0 285 230 520 
			  Sri Lanka (1)- 225 160 390 
			  Egypt (1)- 150 100 250 
			  South Africa (1)- 180 50 230 
			  Nigeria 0 80 50 135 
			  Sudan 0 75 50 130 
			  Malaysia 0 90 35 125 
			  Australia 0 65 50 115 
			  Bangladesh 0 35 30 65 
			  Burma (Union of Myanmar) 0 30 15 45 
			  United States 0 25 20 45 
			  Iraq 0 25 15 40 
			  Syria 0 30 10 40 
			  Singapore 0 25 10 35 
			  Jordan 0 20 10 30 
			  Libya 0 20 5 25 
			  Canada 0 20 5 25 
			  Trinidad and Tobago 0 15 5 25 
			  New Zealand 0 15 10 25 
			  Total 5 2,020 1,230 3,255 
			   
			 Nurses India (1)- 1,015 500 1,515 
			  Philippines 0 685 585 1,265 
			  Zimbabwe 0 520 190 710 
			  Nigeria 0 180 90 265 
			  South Africa 0 125 85 210 
			  Ghana 0 80 40 120 
			  Australia (1)- 70 40 110 
			  Mauritius 0 60 25 85 
			  Nepal 0 60 25 85 
			  Zambia 0 60 25 80 
			  Jamaica 0 60 20 80 
			  Pakistan 0 55 25 80 
			  Kenya 0 55 20 70 
			  China 0 30 25 55 
			  Trinidad and Tobago 0 45 15 55 
			  United States 0 30 25 50 
			  Guyana 0 30 10 40 
			  New Zealand 0 20 15 35 
			  Uganda 0 20 5 25 
			  Malaysia 0 15 10 25 
			  Total 5 3,205 1,765 4,975 
			   
			  Total 5 5,225 2,995 8,225 
			 (1) Indicates 1 or 2.  Notes: 1. The data are based on management information, are provisional and may be subject to change. The data are not National Statistics. 2. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 3. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Foreign Nationals: Licences

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional background checks the Security Industry Authority is entitled to make in respect of foreign nationals applying for licences; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The SIA are entitled to make background checks on overseas nationals in accordance with their licensing criteria, which are approved by the Secretary of State for the Home Office, and published in the form of Get Licensed. A copy of Get Licensed has been placed in the House Library and can be found on the SIA's website at:
	http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Documents/licensing/sia_get_licensed.pdf
	If any applicant, overseas or UK national, has been based overseas for six continuous months or more during the last five years, they must produce evidence of a criminal record check covering that period from an official source from the country they lived in, which the SIA can verify. An official source will normally mean the Government body that issues criminal record certificates. Any evidence of criminality identified through an overseas disclosure will be judged against the criteria and offences in Get Licensed.
	The SIA also undertake right to work checks on any non EEA national applicants. This check does not replace the statutory responsibility of employers to ensure their employees have the right to work in the UK or their responsibility to ensure employees with restricted hours visas do not work more hours than allowed. Employers are advised by the SIA to ensure that they know if an employee's right to work expires before their SIA licence expires, and that they should not accept the possession of an SIA licence as proof of the licence holders right to work in the UK.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many factors are taken into account in assessing whether an individual has been trafficked.

Damian Green: Decisions about who is a victim of trafficking are made by trained specialists in designated 'Competent Authorities'. A Competent Authority will take into account multiple factors when considering whether an individual meets the definition of trafficking given in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. There is no prescribed list of factors that must be present before trafficking can be recognised, but the detailed training and guidance used by Competent Authorities and frontline staff includes a range of indicators drawn from international best practice. These indicators include being deceived about the nature of the job, location or employer, violence or threats of violence against victim, confiscation of a passport, debt bondage, isolation, confinement or surveillance, forced tasks and excessive working hours.
	Detailed information on the Competent Authority consideration procedure can be found in the UK Border Agency's trafficking guidance:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/asylumprocessguidance/specialcases/guidance/victimsoftrafficking.pdf?view=Binary

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria the police use to decide whether an individual has been trafficked.

Damian Green: The decision as to whether an individual is a victim of human trafficking is made by trained specialists in designated "competent authorities" within the UK Border Agency and the UK Human Trafficking Centre, not the police.
	Police officers who encounter an individual they suspect may be a victim of trafficking are asked to refer that person to the UK Human Trafficking Centre so an assessment can be made by competent authorities.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been found to be employed by fishing vessels registered to each UK fishing port in each of the last 12 months; and what steps her Department has taken in consequence.

Damian Green: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by undertaking a search of individual records.
	Any abuse of the immigration rules within the fishing industry will not be tolerated. Employers of illegal workers are dealt with through the illegal working civil penalty regime and any prosecutions are dealt with through the courts.

Immigrants: English Language

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the establishment of English language test centres for immigrants.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanisms the language skills of migrants applying for spouse visas will be assessed under the proposed new English language requirement.

Damian Green: On 9 June, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a new language requirement for those seeking entry to the UK as the spouse or civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or someone who is present and settled in the UK.
	Spouses will be required to meet level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for speaking and listening. The intention is that applicants will need to submit evidence that they have passed a test on a UKBA approved list of test providers with their application for leave to enter or remain, unless they are nationals from majority English-speaking countries.
	We have not yet approved test providers for the new spouse language requirement. An announcement about approved test providers will be made at the earliest opportunity.

Immigration

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers she has to revoke an individual's indefinite leave to remain granted following marriage to a British citizen in circumstances in which the individual has been violent towards their spouse; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Where an individual has been granted indefinite leave to remain as the spouse of a British citizen, and is subsequently alleged to have been violent towards his or her spouse, this is not in itself grounds for revoking that indefinite leave. However, if deception was used in obtaining indefinite leave to remain as the spouse of a British citizen, section 10(1)(b) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which provides for the removal from UK of a person using deception, is relevant. This allows for leave to be revoked and removal pursued. If the person has been criminally convicted of violence, he or she may have their leave revoked and be subject to deportation.

Immigration: Hungary

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect on the level of immigration to the UK of the decision of the Hungarian Government to allow ethnic Hungarians living abroad to apply for dual citizenship.

Damian Green: No assessment has been made to date, but the UK Border Agency will continue to monitor closely any significant changes in numbers of Hungarians registering on the Worker Registration Scheme, or those applying for residence documentation.

Immigration: Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been granted in respect of each occupation in each year since the inception of the points-based immigration system.

Damian Green: The numbers of work permits issued for each of the requested categories are set out in the tables placed in the House Library.

Immigration: Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many grants of settlement have been made on the basis of employment with a work permit in  (a) each year since 1997 and  (b) each quarter since quarter 1 of 2006; and if she will give the corresponding figures for spouses and dependants.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 July 2010
	The latest quarterly figures were published in table 4.2 in the "Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom-January to March 2010". The quarterly figures from 2006 to the first quarter of 2010 are given in table 1. Data for second quarter of 2010 are scheduled for publication on 26 August 2010.
	The latest annual figures from 1997 to 2009 are given in table 2.
	Home Office statistical publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Table 1-Grants and refusals of settlement( 1,2,)( 3 ) by employment based category of grant, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals( 4) , Q1 2006 to Q1 2010 
			  Number of persons 
			   2006  2007( 5) 
			  Broad category of grant  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total 
			  Employment( 6)   
			 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 7,210 2,670 685 710 11,270 1,350 2,880 5,550 5,385 15,165 
			 Spouses and dependants 8,255 2,900 635 550 12,340 1,150 3,470 6,795 6,650 18,065 
			
			 5 years aggregate of pre PBS categories and Tiers 1 or 2(7) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Spouses and dependants n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 Permit-free employment, businessman, persons of independent means 705 1,820 620 120 3,265 90 175 340 265 865 
			 Spouses and dependants 530 1,305 400 75 2,315 40 120 305 240 700 
			
			 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 1,380 390 75 50 1,900 90 400 710 480 1,675 
			 Spouses and dependants 520 160 40 20 740 30 150 325 230 730 
			 Total employment-related grants 18,600 9,245 2,455 1,530 31,830 2,750 7,195 14,020 13,250 37,210 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of persons 
			   2008  2009( 8)  2010( 9) 
			  Broad category of grant  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1 
			  Employment( 6)
			 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 6,210 5,765 5,585 5,710 23,270 6,515 6,145 6,605 6,170 25,435 7,675 
			 Spouses and dependants 7,815 7,210 7,360 8,185 30,575 9,120 9,250 9,835 8,630 36,830 11,060 
			 
			 5 years aggregate of pre PBS categories and Tiers 1 or 2(7) n/a n/a n/a 5 5 45 410 795 740 1,990 1,230 
			 Spouses and dependants n/a n/a n/a 5 5 60 655 1,170 970 2,855 1,725 
			 
			 Permit-free employment, businessman,
			 persons of independent means 435 470 605 555 2,065 575 1,025 1,725 1,560 4,885 2,035 
			 Spouses and dependants 380 400 510 500 1,790 540 1,230 2,440 2,065 6,275 2,485 
			 
			 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 655 610 445 375 2,090 460 765 355 390 1,975 485 
			 Spouses and dependants 280 300 225 165 970 225 350 190 195 965 235 
			 Total employment-related grants 15,775 14,755 14,730 15,505 60,770 17,550 19,835 23,120 20,715 81,220 26,930 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Includes reconsideration cases and the outcome of appeals. (3) May include a small number of cases in which a decision is recorded twice, where an individual has dual nationality. (4) Data exclude dependants of EEA and Swiss nationals in confirmed relationships granted permanent residence. (5) Excludes Bulgaria and Romania from January 2007. (6) In April 2006, the qualifying period for settlement in all employment-related categories changed from 4 to 5 years delaying grants of settlement that would otherwise have occurred earlier. (7 )Grants of settlement to persons that combine qualifying periods of residence in Points Base System Tiers 1 Highly Skilled or 2 Skilled Workers and other pre Point Based System categories. (8) Revised figures. (9) Provisional figures. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2-Grants of settlement by employment based category of grant, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals( 1,)( 2) , 1997-2009 , United Kingdom 
			  Number of persons 
			  Broad category of grant  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003( 3)  2004( 4)( ,)( 5)  2005( 4)  2006( 4)  2007( 4,6)  2008( 4,)( 6,9)  2009( 4,)( 6)( ,)( 10) 
			  Employment( 7)  
			 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 2,840 3,150 3,280 4,445 4,335 5,845 9,190 16,205 25,470 11,270 15,165 23,270 25,435 
			 Spouses and dependants 3,565 3,790 3,580 5,140 5,045 6,835 10,620 17,050 27,340 12,340 18,065 30,575 36,830 
			   
			 5 years aggregate of pre PBS categories and Tiers 1 or 2(8) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 1,990 
			 Spouses and dependants n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 2,855 
			   
			 Permit-free employment, businessman, persons of independent means 975 1,060 835 1,685 1,050 1,095 1,550 1,545 1,945 3,265 865 2,065 4,885 
			 Spouses and dependants 1,195 1,190 1,005 1,115 845 680 1,050 1,020 1,570 2,315 700 1,790 6,275 
			 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 1,110 1,675 2,240 2,580 3,255 4,060 5,275 4,755 4,795 1,900 1,675 2,090 1,975 
			 Spouses and dependants 225 365 540 640 725 1,290 1,945 1,680 1,895 740 730 970 965 
			 Total employment-related grants 9,910 11,230 11,480 15,610 15,255 19,800 29,635 42,260 63,015 31,830 37,210 60,770 81,220 
			 n/a = Not applicable (1 )Figures rounded to the nearest 5 and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Data from 2003 exclude dependants of EEA and Swiss nationals in confirmed relationships granted permanent residence. (3) Excludes reconsideration cases. (4) May include a small number of cases in which a decision is recorded twice, where an individual has dual nationality. (5 )Includes nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. (6) Excludes Bulgaria and Romania from January 2007. (7) In 2006 the qualifying period for settlement in all employment-related categories changed from 4 to 5 years. (8) Grants of settlement to persons that combine qualifying periods of residence in Points Base System Tiers 1 Highly Skilled or 2 Skilled Workers and other pre Point Based System categories. (9) Revised figures. (10) Provisional figures.

Immigration: Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued to non-UK nationals in each quarter since 1 January 2005.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 July 2010
	 The number of work permits issued since 1 January 2005 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Work permits approved by quarter 1 January 2005-20 July 20 10 
			   Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4 
			 2005 42,325 44,770 42,050 38,235 
			 2006 41,880 42,720 45,370 41,030 
			 2007 43,225 41,335 43,310 37,055 
			 2008 35,265 39,330 45,135 28,835 
			 2009 7,155 3,280 1,910 1,440 
			 2010 1,340 2,120 480 669,590 
			  Notes: 1. The data are based on management information, are provisional and may be subject to change. The data are not National Statistics. 2. Figures are rounded to nearest five. 3. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to the totals shown.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter to her dated 20 May 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr A. Khan.

Damian Green: We have no record of receiving the right hon. Member's letter of 20 May 2010 and obtained a copy from his office on 13 July 2010. I replied to the hon. Member on 23 July 2010.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to respond to the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay's letter of 17 June 2010 on his constituent Mr R. Zhang.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 13 July 2010.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay's letter of 15 June 2010 on his constituent Mr M. Tizora.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 23 July 2010.

Police: Finance

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which elements of the proposed £135 million police expenditure reductions  (a) were and  (b) were not contained in the £545 million of reductions set out in the Policing White Paper published in November 2009.

Theresa May: holding answer 14 June 2010
	The £545 million set out in the 2009 Policing White Paper included £100 million intended for delivery in 2010-11. Savings were to be achieved through national frameworks for procurement, converging IT, reductions in overtime and streamlining support services. I have reduced this year's core Government funding to the police by a total of £125 million. It is for chief constables to use their expertise and decide what makes most sense for their force, including taking account of the £100 million opportunities, but I am quite clear that the £125 million saving can be achieved by driving out wasteful spending on support functions, reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency in key functions, leaving the frontline of policing strong and secure. I expect forces to be held to this by both police authorities and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.

UK Border Agency International Group

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) guidance and  (b) directions Ministers in her Department issue to the UK Border Agency International Group; if she will place in the Library a copy of each document containing such guidance and directions; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 20 July 2010
	Entry clearance staff working within UK Border Agency International Directorate make entry clearance decisions on the basis of the immigration rules. Guidance on applying the immigration rules is available to staff and the general public at:
	http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ecg/
	This guidance is best viewed online rather than in Library copy as it is regularly updated. A small part of the guidance is classified for issues of national security and on this basis it would not be appropriate to publish this in the Library of the House or make it available to the general public.

UK Border Agency: Expenditure

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency spent on legal costs for High Court cases in each of the last three years.

Damian Green: The information is not collated in the way requested as costs are not recorded based on the seniority of the court where the case was heard.
	The Home Office prepares its accounts in accordance with UK GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) adapted for the public sector in accordance with guidance issued by HM Treasury.

UK Border Agency: Immigration Appeals

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of immigration appeals UK Border Agency staff attended in each year since 2005; and what proportion of immigration appeals at which the UK Border Agency  (a) was and  (b) was not represented were allowed in each year.

Damian Green: The proportion of immigration appeals represented by UKBA staff in each calendar year since 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			  Proportion 
			   Represented (%)  Appeal numbers 
			 2005 91 53,630 
			 2006 84 95,351 
			 2007 85 102,249 
			 2008 76 101,860 
			 2009 64 96,188 
		
	
	The following table shows the proportion of immigration appeals allowed each year since 2005 that were  (a) represented and  (b) not represented.
	
		
			  Proportion 
			Not represented  %  Represented  %  Total 
			 2005 Allowed 1,409 8 14,528 91 15,937 
			 2006 Allowed 5,587 16 29,927 84 35,514 
			 2007 Allowed 6,211 17 30,806 83 37,017 
			 2008 Allowed 11,870 29 29,092 71 40,962 
			 2009 Allowed 17,473 42 23,997 58 41,470 
			  Notes:  1. In responding to this question, "immigration cases" has been taken to mean asylum, deportation, economic and family migration, international group (entry clearance), and visit visa cases. 2. Figures exclude paper appeal cases as these cases are determined in the absence of a hearing by an immigration judge sitting "in chambers". Neither the appellant's representative nor a presenting officer is required to attend a hearing and these figures are excluded from the appeals representation rates as no representation takes place. 3. The statistical information provided is provisional and for internal use by the UK Border Agency only. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. The validity of data taken from CID is completely reliant on the quality and timeliness of the information held on the database. Statistics to be used publicly or for other Government Departments or agencies must be agreed with the Immigration Research and Statistics Service (IRSS). 4. Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as those withdrawn by the appellant.

Visas: Married People

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers she has to revoke a spouse or partner visa in circumstances in which an individual who has the visa has been violent towards their spouse or partner; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Where a person has limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a spouse or partner, and the marriage or relationship breaks down, there is discretionary provision in paragraph 323 of the Immigration Rules to curtail that person's leave. If the UK-settled sponsor alleges that the migrant has caused domestic violence or made threats, my officials give priority to the consideration of such cases. If a non-British citizen is convicted of a criminal offence carrying a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, he is liable to deportation from the UK. A deportation order revokes leave to enter or remain, and requires the person to leave the UK.

Visas: Northern Ireland

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism is in place to ensure that non-EU nationals living in the Republic of Ireland comply with visa requirements when travelling to Northern Ireland.

Damian Green: The Common Travel Area comprises the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies (the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and the Republic of Ireland, and is based on the principle that once a person has been granted leave to enter one part of the CTA, they will not normally require leave to enter another part of it while that leave is extant and provided they do not leave the CTA.
	There are exceptions to this principle and a visa national who has no valid visa for the UK may not enter the UK from another part of the CTA without leave from a UKBA officer.
	The UK currently makes no routine immigration checks on passenger travel within the CTA. However, we do carry out intelligence-led operations on intra CTA borders. This includes operational activity in Northern Ireland.
	We work closely with the Republic of Ireland to tackle illegal migration and abuse of the CTA. The UK Border Agency, UK police and the Irish Garda National Immigration Bureau work collaboratively to tackle potential risk to the internal CTA borders.
	We also continue to work in partnership with the Republic of Ireland and the Crown dependencies on measures to strengthen the external CTA border and prevent abuse; these include initiatives on data sharing, visa arrangements and e-Borders.

Visas: Pakistan

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications there were for visas to enter the UK from Pakistan in each year since 1997; and how many such applications were refused in each such year.

Damian Green: The number of visa applications from nationals of Pakistan that were (a) received and (b) refused in each year from 2004-09 are shown in the following table. Reliable statistics for previous years are not held.
	
		
			   Nationality  Applications  Refused 
			 2004 Pakistan 229,338 64,563 
			 2005 Pakistan 207,331 71,897 
			 2006 Pakistan 243,143 75,633 
			 2007 Pakistan 208,059 85,723 
			 2008 Pakistan 181,345 66,728 
			 2009 Pakistan 147,982 71,657

Visas: Pakistan

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process applications for visas to enter the UK  (a) from overseas and  (b) from Pakistan was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: In the financial year 2009-10, average processing times for UK visa applications were as follows:
	All countries: 9.8 days
	Pakistan: 14.9 days.
	Actual processing times can vary considerably according to location, category of application and time of year. A guide to visa application processing times for each UK visa application centre overseas is available on our website at:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas
	Processing time is counted from the date the application is lodged and the fee paid to the date that either (a) the applicant is informed that their passport is ready for collection, or (b) the passport is sent back to the applicant.

Work Permits

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are limits on the number of hours a week that an individual on a working visa can work.

Damian Green: The points based system, and the immigration routes that preceded it, does not place a limit on the number of hours a week that an individual can work. However, migrant workers enjoy the same protection under employment law as resident workers, including the working time directive.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service: Somerset

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Attorney-General how many  (a) full-time and  (b) temporary Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors were assigned to cases heard in courts in (i) Taunton and (ii) Bridgwater in each of the last five years.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service keeps records of prosecutors'/agents' attendance at court recorded by half-day sessions. The figures available for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are no longer available. In 2007-08, 909 half-day sessions were recorded in Taunton and 673 at Bridgwater. However prosecutors and agents cannot be distinguished. In 2008-09 there were 825 half-day sessions in Taunton, of which 67 were conducted by agents, and 585 at Bridgwater, of which 67 were conducted by agents. In 2009-10, there were 840 half-day sessions at Taunton, of which 77 were conducted by agents, and 514 at Bridgwater, of which 70 were conducted by agents.

Departmental Internet

Graham Evans: To ask the Attorney-General how much  (a) the Law Officers' Departments and  (b) their agency spent on website design in each year since 1997.

Dominic Grieve: The information requested is detailed as follows.
	Central records held by both CPS and RCPO do not differentiate between different categories of website expenditure. The CPS figures shown, therefore, include expenditure on website design, maintenance, development, content (including Welsh translation), training, publishing, as well as costs for work on the staff intranet.
	
		
			   Cost 
			 2004-5 £23,000 
			 2005-6 £11,000 
			 2006-7 £53,120.85 
			 2007-8 £65,269.15 
			 2008-9 £190,493.78 
			 2009-10 £199,894.83 
			  Note: Central records of costs incurred before 2004 are not available and could be determined only at a disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	RCPO spent £58,741 in 2008-09 which includes not only design but also the costs of the strategy and planning, build, hosting, infrastructure, content provision, testing, evaluation and staff costs. RCPO was set up in 2005. Records for website spend are not available before 2008-09 and could be determined only at a disproportionate cost.
	The National Fraud Authority spent £168,851 in 2009-10. This cost included the design and development of the Action Fraud website (including the design of the web reporting tool). No other expenditure on websites is recorded.
	The Attorney-General's Office redeveloped its website in 2009. The Attorney-General's Office's website is shared with the National Fraud Authority and the total cost of the combined website for the Attorney-General's Office and National Fraud Authority was £62,143.20.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department is responsible for the following websites: Treasury Solicitor's Department, Bona Vacantia, HMCPSI and Government Legal Service.
	Since 2003 there has been external design expenditure of £1,400 on the Treasury Solicitor's website (incurred in 2009-10).
	The Bona Vacantia website was redesigned in 2009 at a total cost of £42,598.
	No external website design expenditure has been incurred by HMCPSI or the Government Legal Service.
	The Serious Fraud Office has spent the following amounts on website design, there are no records for expenditure in years before 2006-07.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 101,802 
			 2008-09 60,288 
			 2009-10 107,114

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Attorney-General how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in the Law Officers' Departments in 2009-10.

Dominic Grieve: The following table details the amount spent by the Law Officers' Departments on remuneration for civil servants in 2009-10. The information provided is drawn from departmental resource accounts for 2009-10 which have recently been presented to the House of Commons.
	
		
			  Department  Remuneration (£ million) 
			 TSol(1) 54.181 
			 SFO 15.282 
			 CPS 378.420 
			 NFA 1.364 
			 (1) The Treasury Solicitor's Department resource accounts for 2009-10 also cover staff at the Attorney-General's Office, Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many of the Law Officers' Departments' contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review;
	(2)  how many officials in the Law Officers' Departments are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to those Departments as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to those Departments from such renegotiations; how much expenditure those Departments will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed.

Dominic Grieve: The Law Officers' Departments operate a policy of continually reviewing contracts to achieve efficiency savings where possible.
	At present the Law Officers Departments, like other Government Departments, are waiting for a direction from OGC as to the suppliers and contracts that may be subject to review and renegotiation, following the work being done by the Efficiency and Reform Group on the efficiency savings programme. We are unclear at present as to which contracts may be affected by this programme, so accordingly cannot currently identify the expected savings or the expenditure the Departments will incur.

Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Attorney-General what legal advice he has given Ministers on their Departments' compliance with section 3 of the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009.

Dominic Grieve: By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that the Law Officers have advised (or have not advised) on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside government.

Prosecutions: Expenditure

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of the budget of the Crown Prosecution Service was spent on frontline prosecution activity in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dominic Grieve: The proportion of the budget of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spent on frontline prosecution activity for the financial year 2009-10 was approximately 83%. The CPS has defined frontline to mean the costs incurred by the 42 geographical areas, CPS Direct and the four Casework Directorates, together with the appropriate proportion of central overheads such as information technology.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Communication

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Prime Minister what instructions have been issued by his private office on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence.

David Cameron: We aim to reply to all correspondence swiftly and accurately. My Office has responded to nearly 28,000 letters since 12 May 2010.

EU Budget

Ian Davidson: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the merits of implementing a reduction of  (a) 25% and  (b) 40% in departmental expenditure related to UK payments to the European Union budget.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 946.

Israel

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Israel; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made towards introducing a limit on the number of special advisers; and what the limit is planned to be.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.2 of the Ministerial Code. A list of special advisers was published on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS.

Slovenia: World War Two

Denis MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister if he will issue an apology to the families and descendants of those Slovenes who were forcibly repatriated by the British Army in 1945 and subsequently murdered by the communist authorities of Yugoslavia.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government share the sense of regret at the loss of life that occurred in Yugoslavia in the aftermath of the second world war. These events are now for historical study and review.

USA

Denis MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister what class of air travel he used for his journey to the United States on 19 July 2010.

David Cameron: As set out in the Ministerial Code, details of all my overseas travel will be published at least quarterly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Procurement Policy

Adrian Sanders: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission if the House of Commons Commission will review its procurement policy to ensure that all purchases made by the House of Commons Service comply with ethical and environmentally sustainable principles.

Stuart Bell: The House Administration ensures, when tendering and awarding its contracts, that suppliers give evidence that they will apply best practice in terms of both ethical practice and environmental sustainability. The House's standard form of contract includes terms covering the environment and human rights, making failure to comply a breach of contract and grounds to terminate. Purchasing is carried out under an ethics policy based broadly on that of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Palace of Westminster and 7 Millbank: Wifi

Christopher Leslie: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans Parliamentary ICT has to improve wifi connectivity in  (a) the Palace of Westminster and  (b) No. 7 Millbank; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell: Wifi is available in 75 locations across the Estate including all committee rooms and meeting rooms that are bookable by Members as well as other communal areas such as the Portcullis House Atrium and the Members Library. Access to the Parliamentary Network for parliamentary users and guest wifi to the internet is available in all these locations. There are no current plans to extend wifi in No. 7 Millbank. The quality of the wifi service is reported as good and access to the guest service will be simplified over the summer. A limitation to the use of Apple Macintosh laptops has recently been identified and is being resolved.

Select Committees: Transcription Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  whether the House of Commons Commission made an assessment of  (a) quality and  (b) accuracy of transcripts provided by remote transcription in (i) the Courts Service and (ii) other comparable institutions in determining the award of the contract for select committee transcription services;
	(2)  what process was followed for the  (a) tender and  (b) award of the contract for select committee transcription services; and which officers of the House had responsibility for the process;
	(3)  what requirements there will be on contractors providing transcription services to select committees under the new contract to provide note-takers to attend select committee evidence sessions; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  for what reasons the arrangements for transcription of evidence taken during meetings of select committees are to be altered; what consultation was carried out on the proposed change; what representations the House of Commons Commission has received on the proposed change; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what contingency arrangements the House Service has in place in the event of failure of sound recording equipment in committee rooms;
	(6)  what assessment the House of Commons Commission has made of the language skills of those contracted to provide transcription services to select committees under the new contract.

Stuart Bell: The House of Commons and House of Lords jointly have conducted public sector procurement exercises for Select Committee and Private Bill Committee transcription services periodically in the last decade. (Public Bill Committees have always been transcribed directly by the  Official Report ( Hansard).) Competitions for contracts beginning in 2002 and 2007 were won by W B Gurney's, a private firm which has carried out this work for a very long period. A review of the requirement for future transcription services was carried out in 2007, taking into account the increasing need for value for money, developments in technology, and the need to maximise the utilisation of the House's existing transcription expertise following reorganisation of the House administration. Those consulted by the review team included a range of other users of transcription services. The review recommended that future contracts should be managed by the  Official Reports in the two Houses, so as to make better use of the Houses' existing professional expertise, and should build in greater business resilience by including the possibility of awarding work to more than one company. The present contract, subject to the possibility of renewal for up to two years, expires on 31 July 2010 and the competition for the new contract was launched on 23 September 2009. The tenders and award under the competition have followed the process set down by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, SI 2006 No.5, which, as a Contracting Authority (as defined in the Regulations) both the House of Commons and the House of Lords are bound to follow. The competition has been conducted by a panel comprising senior officials of the Committee Offices and the Editors of the  Official Reports of both Houses, advised and supported by the House's Commercial Services Directorate, acting on behalf of the Corporate Officers of both Houses. It is the Corporate Officers who have the legal capacity to enter into contracts of this nature on behalf of the House each serves. The House of Commons Commission itself has no direct involvement in procurement exercises of this nature.
	Following the competition, contracts for externally transcribed Committee sessions are being awarded to three companies: Ubiqus, Merrill Legal and Marten Walsh Cherer. The criteria governing the competition were set out in the procurement documentation, and included quality of work, reliability and value for money. The contract assessment process has paid full attention to the requirement for quality, with tenderers required to demonstrate their capacity to deliver the services required, including through sample transcripts of other work undertaken, a real-time practical exercise, and evidence of other work carried out by the companies. Separate contractual requirements are not specified for each element of the process, since the objective is to govern the quality of the end product, not the means by which it is achieved. There was thus no requirement for example to consider the specific language skills of the individual staff of potential providers, though the capacity of a tendering company to submit transcripts to a required standard of English was assessed by the process indicated above. Equally, tenderers were not required to commit to specific methods of transcription; there was thus no requirement for the process to assess the quality and accuracy of transcription services using specific methods carried out for other specific users, such as court services (although the Departments of the  Official Report in both Houses, under the direction of their Editors, keep abreast of professional developments in their field). In practice, as at present, while there will always be a transcriber present in the committee room, some of the transcription work will be via verbatim note-takers, with the remainder via loggers using recordings, though the balance between different methods may differ from the present arrangements. The  Official Report will continue to provide transcription services for up to 20% of select committee meetings using sub-editors to log meetings, as it has been doing satisfactorily for the past two years. As part of their normal contracted duties, Westminster Sound Systems will ensure that back-up recordings are made of every meeting; in addition, all note-takers and loggers will be required to make their own back-up recordings using mobile digital recording technology. As a further assurance measure all transcripts will be quality checked by the  Official Report, with no extra delay in the turnaround time, before they are passed to committees. The  Official Report will be managing the contracts with outside providers.
	The new arrangements will create very substantial direct savings for both Houses, as well as making more efficient use of existing  Hansard resources. Obtaining best value for money in the use of public resources has been an important part of the process. The House of Commons 2010-11 Corporate Business Plan identified 'increased and demonstrable value for money' in services as a strategic objective for the House service. The Commission has agreed a commitment to reduce the Commons Administration budget by 9% over the period 2010-11 to 2012-13.
	The Administration Committee and the Chairmen of the Commission and of the Liaison Committee were informed about the contract competition process. The Commission is aware of letters which have been received by a number of right hon. and hon. Members, some of which have been forwarded to the Commission.

Television: Subtitles

Duncan Hames: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will discuss with broadcasters the extension of the provision of subtitles in respect of broadcast proceedings of the House.

Stuart Bell: Subtitling is a matter for individual broadcasters. The Commission has no plans to discuss the issue, but the hon. Member may wish to raise it with the broadcasters himself.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the comprehensive approach in Afghanistan.

Andrew Mitchell: The Government's approach to Afghanistan is regularly discussed by the National Security Council (NSC) of which the Secretary of State for Defence and I are both members.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the tarmacking of roads  (a) between Garmsir and Lashkar Gar,  (b) between Geresk and Sangin and  (c) in Sangin town centre.

Andrew Mitchell: The United States are funding the rehabilitation of the road from Lashkar Gah to Garmsir. This will be a gravel road, with the option of tarmacking it later. There are no plans to tarmac it at present.
	I am not aware of any plans for tarmacking the Gereshk to Sangin road.
	The UK funded district stabilisation team in Sangin is funding tarmacking and improvements to roads in the district centre and through the local bazaar. So far 2km of roads have been completed in the district centre.
	We are considering options for further support to transport infrastructure in Helmand.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has considered funding proposals to develop a railway line between Spin Baldak and Kandahar.

Andrew Mitchell: While the Department for International Development (DFID) is considering support to a range of transport project, to date no consideration has been given to funding a railway line between Spin Baldak and Kandahar.

Africa: Children

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the government of  (a) Ghana and  (b) other African countries on the use of child labour in the recovery of items from e-waste arising in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: Department for International Development (DFID) Ministers have not discussed the issue of child labour in relation to e-waste with Ghana or other countries.
	Child labour is unacceptable and the Government are committed to tackling it. We strongly support the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which challenges poor labour standards around the world, including child labour, and drives practical measures to improve them. DFID will continue to encourage British businesses to sign up to the initiative and to follow the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which set out good corporate behaviour, including on employment rights and environmental issues.

Cabinet Committees

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times each Cabinet sub-committee he chairs has met since 6 May 2010.

Andrew Mitchell: I do not chair a Cabinet sub-committee.

Departmental Manpower

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to change the number of people employed by his Department.

Andrew Mitchell: In line with other Government Departments, the administration budget for the Department for International Development (DFID) will be set during the forthcoming spending review. We will finalise our plans on DFID's staffing structure once the outcome of the review is known.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in  (a) May and  (b) June 2010.

Stephen O'Brien: The Secretary of State hosted the Department for International Development (DFID) Stakeholder Reception and Launch of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) UK Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Peer Review on 8 July. £306 was spent on non-alcoholic beverages for this event.

Departmental Operating Costs

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to reduce the running costs of his Department since his appointment.

Stephen O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development announced on 1 July a significant package of measures to reduce the Department's running costs by over £10 million per annum. This package includes:
	the introduction of a new system of allowances for staff posted overseas, saving £2 million per annum over time; the implementation of a new travel policy which will save £1.2 million in 2010-11 by restricting all staff plane or train journeys to economy class unless business class is absolutely necessary;
	the rental of two floors in the Department's Palace Street office, which will provide an income of over £2 million per annum;
	and a commitment to reduce the size and cost of corporate services, such as HR and IT, by £5 million by 2012-13.
	In line with other Government Departments, DFID's administration budget will be set during the forthcoming Spending Review.
	My right hon. Friend has also committed the Department to work with other Government departments to reduce its procurement costs, including renegotiating contracts where possible.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) paid £112 million in total in respect of permanent employed civil servants employed in the UK and overseas in 2009-10.

Departmental Private Education

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of his Department were in receipt of the continuity of education allowance in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was in respect of staff  (a) in the UK and  (b) posted overseas.

Andrew Mitchell: The terms and conditions of employment in DFID are set in order to recruit, motivate and retain staff who are skilled and equipped to meet DFID's objectives. Those with children have a legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive a full-time education from the age of five, and they pay UK tax wherever they work. Most parents prefer to take their children with them, but in some countries they are not permitted to do so, either for health or security reasons. Continuity of education is also an important factor, particularly at secondary level.
	In financial year 2009-10, 48 members of DFID's staff on overseas postings received an Education Allowance at a total cost of £1,318,810. Two of the 48 employees returned to the UK during the 2009-10 financial year and were eligible to receive education continuity payments at a cost of £30,823.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review.

Stephen O'Brien: There are 13 key suppliers who will have their contracts reviewed as part of this process. The total number of contracts under review is 116 and the total value of the contracts is £628 million.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials in his Department are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to the Department as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to his Department from such renegotiations; how much expenditure his Department will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed.

Stephen O'Brien: Four senior procurement officials will be involved in renegotiating contracts as part of their duties. The potential for and levels of savings will be determined by conducting a review of the top contracts.
	Expenditure for this activity relates to engagement with 13 key suppliers and may include telephone, e-mail and face to face meetings.
	The Department for International Development is currently within the data gathering and planning phase for this activity and completion time scales are currently undefined.

Departmental Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period.

Stephen O'Brien: The Secretary of State, Minister of State, Permanent Secretary and I are entitled to use a car from the Government Car Service. No other officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) are entitled to use a car, except when accompanied by a Minister or the Permanent Secretary. DFID does not maintain a record of officials who have travelled in a car from the Government Car Service in this capacity. No expenses have been reimbursed to DFID Ministers or the Permanent Secretary for use of taxis, buses or underground trains since the Government took office.
	The Government publish on a quarterly basis the expenses incurred by the most senior officials, which includes use of the Government car service and other travel expenses.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has held on his Department's HIV/AIDS prevention programmes with  (a) other governments,  (b) multilateral agencies and  (c) non-governmental organisations.

Andrew Mitchell: I regularly discuss with a wide range of partners the importance of scaling up effective HIV prevention programmes, such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, condom distribution and use, family planning, and addressing underlying factors that fuel the epidemic, such as gender inequality and poverty.

Developing Countries: Maternity Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to improve post-natal care in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: Maternal and newborn health is a major priority for the UK Government and an area that the Prime Minister has personally championed. The Department for International Development is developing a new Business Plan focusing on reproductive, maternal and newborn health. This will support a 'continuum of care', ensuring that women have choice over whether and when to have children, and to have access to quality care during pregnancy, childbirth and for the newborn, including in the post-natal period.
	The recent G8 summit, which the Prime Minister attended, has delivered a significant boost to efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health. It is estimated that the G8 Muskoka Initiative will prevent 1.3 million under-fives child deaths, 64,000 maternal deaths and enable an additional 12 million women to have access to modern family planning in the period 2010-15.
	At the United Nations Millennium Development Goals summit in September, we will press for international agreement on an action agenda to achieve the MDGs by 2015. This will include making results-based commitments for the most off track MDGs such as maternal and child health, which are particular priorities for the UK Government.

Developing Countries: Schools

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has made an assessment of means to encourage increased levels of school attendance in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: In 'The Coalition: our programme for government', the Government highlighted their commitment to education, stating that we will prioritise aid spending to ensure all children have access to education and will particularly focus on girls and children with disabilities. The ongoing aid reviews will determine how we can achieve better value for money and accelerate progress towards the MDGs, including the target on education, which is at the heart of the Government's development policy.
	We recognise that supporting increased levels of school attendance in developing countries requires a range of interventions including: removing financial barriers to education; addressing specific needs of disadvantaged groups; improving infrastructure; recruiting and training more teachers; and ensuring a quality of learning. In building our strategic approach to education going forward, we will be guided by evidence of what works.

Development Innovation Fund

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has for the future of the Development Innovation Fund.

Andrew Mitchell: The Development Innovation Fund has been closed. Consultation for a new poverty impact fund is planned for later this month, with a view to launching the fund in the autumn.

International Assistance

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on the forthcoming UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The Deputy Prime Minister and I met on 7 July to discuss priorities for the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York.

International Assistance: Hunger

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal aimed at halving hunger by 2015 is met.

Stephen O'Brien: At the G8 summit last month, the Prime Minister confirmed the Government's commitment to the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative, which aims to tackle hunger in developing countries through support for agriculture, food security, and nutrition programmes.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is helping to reduce hunger in partner countries by promoting greater investment in agriculture and through programmes which target the most vulnerable. For example in Ethiopia, UK aid is helping 7.5 million people access more and better quality food. DFID support has contributed to a 15% rise in agricultural production and 11% economic growth in Rwanda. In Bangladesh, agricultural inputs have been provided to over one million people, helping increase incomes by 50%. DFID also aims to prevent malnutrition in 3.5 million children in India over five years, through our support to the health and nutrition sectors.
	At the Millennium Development Goal summit in September, the UK Government will press for agreement on a roadmap for achieving all the MDGs by 2015.

Nigeria: International Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's plans are for future development projects in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: Nigeria is a hugely important country to the development of Africa. The Secretary of State has commissioned a review of the Department for International Development's (DFID)'s aid programmes around the world. The Nigeria programme is part of this. The outcome of the review will be used to inform the Department's spending plans, due to be brought to a conclusion in the autumn. In the meantime, DFID is continuing to implement its ongoing programme.

Nigeria: International Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received on the future of his Department's development projects in Nigeria.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) maintains regular dialogue with Federal Government counterparts in Abuja and with senior officials at the state level. DFID also maintains contact with a range of civil society organisations on programme issues in Nigeria. The Secretary of State has commissioned a review of DFID's bilateral aid programmes around the world. The Nigeria programme is part of this. The outcome of the review will be used to inform the Department's spending plans, due to be brought to a conclusion in the autumn. In the meantime, DFID is continuing to implement its ongoing programme.

Nigeria: International Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Nigeria on his Department's programmes in that country.

Stephen O'Brien: The Secretary of State and I have not yet had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Government of Nigeria. The British High Commissioner and Head of the Department for International Development (DFID) in Nigeria have called on the President of Nigeria several times over the last two months to discuss his priorities and UK support.

Overseas Aid

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have been the subject of joint strategies established by his Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence since his appointment.

Andrew Mitchell: None. The UK Government are committed to joined up working. Department for International Development (DFID) officials work closely with colleagues in other Government Departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence.
	I have recently commissioned a review of DFID's bilateral aid programme to ensure we achieve value for money and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. This review will inform country plans to 2014. Other Government Departments will feed into this process.

Vendata Resources

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) financial and  (b) non-financial support his Department has given to Vendata Resources plc in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: Based on the information which we hold, the Department for International Development (DFID) does not, and has not in the past, supported Vedanta Resources or its subsidiaries.

Water Supply

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received on sourcing and distribution of water in  (a) Rio de Janeiro,  (b) Shanghai and  (c) other areas at threat of increased water stress.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) work is directed towards poor people living in least developed countries. On this basis, we are not involved in sourcing and distribution of water in either Rio de Janeiro or Shanghai.
	DFID supports programmes to address increasing water scarcity in many countries, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. Our watershed management and rural livelihoods programmes in India have enabled more secure livelihoods for 1.65 million people. DFID also supports the Global Water Partnership, which enables developing countries to plan and prepare for their future water needs, and respond to the challenge of climate change.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the Leader of the House if he will introduce arrangements for pre-legislative scrutiny of all proposed Government legislation.

David Heath: The Government aim to publish legislation in draft whenever it is appropriate to do so. However, it will not be possible to do so in all cases.

Members: Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward proposals to establish a fund for payment of interns working for hon. Members.

George Young: The Government have no current plans to do so.

Opposition: Finance

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2010,  Official Report, column 414W, on Labour Party: finance, how much funding  (a) in total and  (b) for staff the Official Opposition Whips Office will receive in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) each of the subsequent two years.

George Young: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 8 July 2010,  Official Report, column 414W. Separate figures are not available for the funding of the Opposition Whips office.

Oral Questions

Graham Allen: To ask the Leader of the House when he plans to decide on whether questions to the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will be included in the rota for questions for oral answer.

George Young: The Government are considering this issue and will inform the House in due course.

Parliamentary Questions

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Leader of the House if he will discuss with ministerial colleagues the practice of answering parliamentary questions by reference to statistical publications on Government websites; and if he will make a statement.

George Young: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons provides guidance to Departments on the practice of answering parliamentary questions by reference to Government websites. This guidance is available on the Cabinet Office website in the 'Guide to Parliamentary Work', at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide/chapter7.aspx
	The guidance states that any information that is on a Government website and is referred to in answer to a parliamentary question should also be supplied to the Member in hard copy, and deposited in the Library. While it may be desirable for answers to parliamentary questions to set out the full information requested, where information is freely available in the public domain, or where the quantity of information would prevent its printing in  Hansard, it is right that a reference to a website may be the most appropriate way of providing information.
	I am depositing this guidance in the House of Commons Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Afghan public servants have been killed in each province of Afghanistan in 2010.

William Hague: There are currently no centrally collated figures for 2010 for the number of Afghan public servants killed in each province.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government have spent on private military security companies in Afghanistan in each year of the conflict; and whether any of those employed by such companies have immunity from prosecution.

Alistair Burt: The amount the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has paid to private security companies for services in Afghanistan is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2004-05 4 
			 2005-06 4 
			 2006-07 15.3 
			 2007-08 20.9 
			 2008-09 22.2 
			 2009-10 13.8 
		
	
	No figures are available for 2001-03 because the first UK security contract in Afghanistan did not start until mid December 2003.
	These contracts provide services to other Government Departments. The costs are shared out accordingly.
	Private security companies carry out a variety of important duties in Afghanistan, providing close protection of personnel and static protection of our embassy and other premises. They perform a vital and necessary role, and enable the Government to fulfil both its policy objectives and its duty of care to its employees, in challenging environments. By providing essential security services, private security companies ensure other Government Departments, visiting journalists and non-government organisations are able to carry out their important work unhindered.
	Members of private security companies who provide security services for a diplomatic mission are treated as performing administrative and technical (A&T) functions for that mission, even if they are not employees of the State concerned. Such people who are employed on FCO contracts are granted immunity from criminal jurisdiction, in accordance with Article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). However, such immunity has never had to be invoked.

Afghanistan: Politics and Government

David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Karzai on the appointment of district governors, with particular reference to Qal'ah-ye Zal following the death of Governor Mohammad Nazils.

William Hague: The appointment of district governors is a matter for the Afghan authorities and I have not discussed individual cases with President Karzai. However, during my meeting with him in Afghanistan on 19 July, we did discuss the importance of governance, including at sub-national level. An Afghan Presidential Decree stipulates that deputy district governors and district governors are now classified as civil servants and, as such, subject to Civil Servant Commission appointment procedures. The UK continues to support the merit-based appointment of governors and other officials and was pleased to see the commitment in the Kabul Conference Communiqué that over the next six months the appointment procedures for senior civil servants are to be simplified and made more transparent.

British Nationals Abroad: Capital Punishment

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the number of UK citizens awaiting execution; and in which country each such citizen is imprisoned.

Jeremy Browne: Eight British nationals have been sentenced to death: four in the USA, one in Ghana, one in Pakistan, one in the Democratic Republic of Congo and one in Afghanistan. In addition, a number of British nationals are facing charges that potentially carry the death penalty.
	The government are committed to using all appropriate influence to prevent the execution of any British national.

Departmental Communication

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been issued by the private office of each Minister in his Department on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence.

Alistair Burt: Private offices communicate ministerial preferences and views to officials as part of normal everyday business.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Alistair Burt: The total remuneration paid to civil servants in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for 2009-10 is £246,776,125 as laid out in Note 5.1 of the FCO Resource Accounts for 2009-10. This includes remuneration paid to staff at Wilton Park (an FCO agency) but not staff employed by FCO Services. The figure for Wilton Park is £1,973,734.

Departmental Private Education

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of his Department were in receipt of the continuity of education allowance in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was in respect of staff  (a) in the UK and  (b) posted overseas.

Alistair Burt: It is a condition of their employment that members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those with children have a legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive a full-time education from the age of five years. Members of the diplomatic service pay UK tax wherever they work and are entitled to have their children educated at public expense. Most parents prefer to take their children with them on posting, but in some countries we do not permit staff to take their children either for health or security reasons. In others, local schools of an acceptable standard are not available. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) helps staff meet their potentially conflicting obligations by providing financial support for their children's education in the UK where staff choose this, or are obliged to do so given local conditions in the country to which they are posted. Continuity of education is also an important factor, particularly at secondary level.
	During the course of academic year 2009-10, 339 officers received Continuity of Education Allowance for 521 children. This represents about 6% of staff employed in the FCO and FCO Services. Three-quarters of the recipients are below the senior management grade in the FCO, including junior support staff and single parents. Staff serving in the UK were paid £7,487,435, with staff serving at posts overseas receiving £5,843,415.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect on UK representation at the United Nations of recent changes to the powers granted to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to  (a) speak and  (b) act on behalf of (i) the EU and (ii) its member states.

David Lidington: I have considered carefully the powers granted by the Lisbon treaty to the High Representative to speak and act externally on behalf of the EU. Those powers leave largely unchanged the allocation of competences between the EU and its member states respectively. Nor do they alter the rights and responsibilities of the representatives of EU member states to speak and act on their own behalf at the United Nations. We keep implementation of this and all aspects of the Lisbon treaty under constant review, to ensure that functions are allocated and performed strictly in accordance with the treaty.
	My written ministerial statement of 14 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 31-32WS, explained that we had agreed that the EU should seek additional rights for itself as an Observer in the UN General Assembly in order to represent the EU and its member states effectively in that forum, in the same way as the member state holding the EU rotating presidency has done. As that statement made clear, those additional observer rights would not affect the rights and responsibilities of UK representatives at the United Nations to speak and act on our behalf in the UN General Assembly. EU representatives will continue to sit with other international organisations and not with the UN's member states.

European Parliament Members: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 6-7WS, on the European Parliament Transitionary Protocol, what the estimated cost to the European Union of the 18 additional MEPs will be between now and 2014.

David Lidington: The additional MEPs will be subject to the same reimbursement arrangements as current serving MEPs. The monthly post-EU tax salary of an MEP is currently set at €6,083.91. This is paid from the European Parliament's budget. In addition to this salary, MEPs are entitled to a number of allowances, including travel expenses, daily allowance and general expenditure allowance. More details can be found on the European Parliament's website:
	http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20090511MLT55628/media_20090511MLT55628.pdf
	The transitionary protocol has to be ratified by all 27 EU member states before the additional MEPs can formally take up their seats, so it is not possible to make a definitive calculation of cost as it is not known when this will be. However, all expenditure will come from the European Parliament's share of the EU budget.

European Parliament Members: Germany

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 6-7WS, on the European Parliament Transitionary Protocol, for what reasons the three additional German MEPs will not be standing down before 2014; and what the estimated cost to the European Union will be of maintaining those MEPs until 2014.

David Lidington: Under article 5 of the EU Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (20 September 1976), it is not possible for the EU to curtail an MEP's mandate during a parliamentary term or, therefore, to reduce the current number of MEPs in the German delegation within the European Parliament. The Act only provides for vacancies under article 13 (1) in cases where a seat falls vacant due to the mandate of an MEP ending as a result of resignation, death or withdrawal of the mandate by the member state of the MEP.

European Parliament: Publications

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 6-7WS, on the European Parliament Transitionary Protocol, if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) agreed Protocol and  (b) minutes of the intergovernmental conference.

David Lidington: I will place a copy of the signed protocol in the Library of both Houses. There are no minutes of the intergovernmental conference (IGC), though the principle was agreed by the European Council in its Conclusions of December 2008 and June 2009. These are available in the House Library.
	The then Minister for Europe informed the Scrutiny Committees last December that an IGC would be taking place and for what reasons, and the hon. Member will be aware of my written ministerial statement after the IGC had taken place.

Gambia: Capital Punishment

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the government of Gambia on behalf of British citizen Deborah Burns, whose husband Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye has been sentenced to the death penalty for treason in that country.

Alistair Burt: Our acting high commissioner to Banjul, in his capacity as the permanent acting representative of the presidency of the EU delivered a statement by the High Representative of the EU to the Gambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 20 July 2010 expressing deep concern over the death sentence pronounced against Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye and seven other people accused of treason and conspiracy. The statement, also released in the Gambian press, urged the Gambian authorities not to carry out executions in respect of the convicted individuals, to respect their right of appeal and to ensure a fair trial is fully guaranteed.
	Our acting high commissioner to The Gambia is in regular contact with Brigadier Mbyes' wife, Deborah Burns, and we will continue to monitor this case closely.

India: Mining

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions on the likely effect on indigenous people's land of Vendata Resources plc's proposed bauxite mine in Orisha, India.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not been involved in discussions with Vedanta about this issue. However, in February 2010, our high commissioner to India met with a representative of Vedanta and raised concerns surrounding the company's project in Orissa.

Israel

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department is providing to projects designed to promote equality between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel.

Alistair Burt: Our embassy in Tel Aviv has provided over £40,000 over the last year to promote equality and understanding between Israel's Arab and Jewish citizens. This includes support to the Abraham Fund Initiative for projects focused on the Arabic language, increasing dialogue, raising awareness and work placement initiatives. We have also supported the Hand In Hand centre's co-education project. We will continue to press the Israeli Government to respect and promote the rights of all minorities in Israel.

Israel

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the teaching of Arabic in Israel.

Alistair Burt: Our embassy in Israel regularly engages with the Government of Israel and with Israeli civil society on education matters. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv last spoke to the Israeli Minister of Education, Gidon Sa'ar, about the teaching of Arabic in Israel in September 2009. We welcome the support his Ministry have subsequently given to an Arabic teaching initiative, supported by the UK, called Language as a Cultural Bridge. This initiative enables children from Jewish and Palestinian families in schools in the Galilee to learn more about each others culture and language.

Nigeria: Politics and Government

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Nigeria.

Alistair Burt: We commend the Government of Nigeria for the smooth and constitutional succession of President Goodluck Jonathan, after the sad death of President Yar'Adua on 5 May 2010. Since assuming the Presidency, President Jonathan has made welcome commitments on his determination to address corruption, conflict in the Niger Delta and in Nigeria's middle-belt, and to bring about lasting electoral reform during his term as President.
	It will be vital for Nigeria that its government delivers on these commitments, particularly building on the reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission, to achieve credible and peaceful Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in 2011. The UK, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development and partners in the international community, are continuing to support Nigeria in these efforts.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010,  Official Report, column 516W, on Palestinians: international assistance, what steps he is taking to seek to  (a) enable exportation of permitted goods and  (b) encourage the Israeli government to remove building materials from the list of banned items; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I agree that there is a pressing need to alleviate the economic situation in Gaza. It is in Israel's long-term interests to create an environment where Gaza's economy can flourish. We have been clear that Israel should allow greater movement of goods both into and out of Gaza, while recognising Israel has real security concerns. My EU colleagues and I will continue to push for the export of goods and services from Gaza.
	Israel has agreed to let in construction materials for use in building projects, such as the rehabilitation or reconstruction of schools and clinics, which have been approved by the Palestinian Authority and which will be overseen by the UN or international aid agencies. We understand Israeli concerns about the end use of dual-use items. However, although 31 such projects have been accepted in the last week by Israel, Israeli implementation procedures remain cumbersome and slow. We will continue to lobby Israel to streamline the process to ensure that that essential reconstruction work is not held up.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010,  Official Report, column 516W, on Palestinians: international assistance, what discussions he plans to have  (a) at EU level and  (b) with the (i) Israeli and (ii) Palestinian government on delivering real change; and what priorities he has set for his policy on Gaza.

Alistair Burt: Our key priorities are:
	to ensure that Israel implements the commitments it has made regarding access and to allow exports out of Gaza;
	to put into place workable monitoring systems for dual use items; and
	that the Palestinian Authority has sufficient capacity to prioritise and facilitate the entry of goods into Gaza;
	and that non-governmental organisations are ready and work together.
	We will discuss these priorities at the regular EU Foreign Affairs Council, as well as at the official level at frequent EU working groups. We also continue to discuss the need for concrete progress on Gaza at ministerial and official level with both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority.

Somalia: Politics and Government

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the situation in Somalia.

Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned by the crisis in Somalia. Insecurity and instability threaten the lives of Somalis and Somalia is home to the worst humanitarian crisis per capita in the world. The attacks in Kampala, which Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for, demonstrate the threat that instability in Somalia poses beyond its borders. The UK is working with Somalis and the UN, EU, US and regional actors to address the situation.
	Somalia is a high priority for this Government and it will be a central focus of discussions my hon. Friend Henry Bellingham, Minister for Africa, intends to have during his visit to the region.

Uzbekistan: Sterilisation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the incidence of forced sterilisation in Uzbekistan; what recent representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Our embassy in Tashkent is aware of recent media and non-governmental organisation reports of forced sterilisation in Uzbekistan, although these have not been the subject of our recent exchanges with the Government of Uzbekistan. We remain concerned at the overall level of respect for human rights in Uzbekistan, and regularly raise these concerns through a critical but constructive dialogue with the Uzbek authorities in Tashkent and in discussions with the Uzbek embassy in London. In doing so, we encourage Uzbekistan to act in accordance with its international obligations. Most recently, I discussed the human rights situation in Uzbekistan with the Uzbekistan Foreign Minister in the margins of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Ministerial held in Almaty on 16 to 17 July.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituencies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation he  (a) has had and  (b) plans to undertake with residents of (i) the Isle of Wight, (ii) Orkney and Shetland and Western Isles, (iii) Ross, Skye and Lochaber and (iv) elsewhere on his proposals on the equalisation of the size of constituencies.

Mark Harper: The Government's proposals for more equal constituency sizes are based upon the principle that votes should have more equal weight. This was set out clearly in the coalition programme and the Government have not consulted further on this principle. However, Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the Bill's provisions in full and residents in all proposed constituencies will be able to make representations to the Boundary Commissions on their proposed recommendations.

Constituencies

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the oral statement of 5 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 23-5W, on political and constitutional reform, what account he took of the proposed referendum on the transfer of legislative powers under Part 4 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 to the National Assembly for Wales in his proposals for boundary changes to constituencies.

Mark Harper: The Government's proposals for more equal constituency sizes for the House of Commons will ensure that votes have more equal weight. The legislation does take account of the link between parliamentary constituencies and Welsh Assembly Government constituencies; the link between the two will be broken so that fewer parliamentary constituencies in future would not lead to a concomitant reduction in the size of the Assembly.

Constituencies

Graham Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his proposed review of the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies will contemplate the drawing of constituency boundaries across the existing boundaries of  (a) metropolitan and  (b) non-metropolitan counties.

Mark Harper: The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill introduced on 22 July contains provision for the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies. Under the new rules set out in the Bill, the Boundary Commissions may take into account local government boundaries, subject to the rule requiring that the number of registered electors in a constituency is within 95-105% of a UK electoral quota.

Constituencies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse was of the Boundary Commission review held prior to the 2010 General Election;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the proposed Boundary Commission review to be held before the next general election; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The previous general review of parliamentary constituencies cost a total of £13.6 million-this is the total figure for each of the last boundary reviews in the UK although they did not take place simultaneously.
	The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, introduced on 22 July 2010, makes provision for a boundary review to be completed in each part of the UK before October 2013. The precise cost of the reviews will depend on the final form of the legislation and the approach adopted by the Boundary Commissions, and we are continuing to discuss resourcing with them. However, we anticipate that the total cost will be less than the aggregate cost of the last set of reviews.

Constituencies: River Mersey

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will ensure that the proposed review of boundaries of parliamentary constituencies recognises the River Mersey as a natural boundary which cannot be crossed by constituencies.

Mark Harper: The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill contains a revised set of rules for the redistribution of seats by the Boundary Commissions. The Bill would amend Schedule 2 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 and provide that a Boundary Commission may take into account, if and to such extent as they think fit, special geographical considerations, including in particular the size, shape and accessibility of a constituency. This would however, be subject to the requirement for constituencies to be within 5% either side of the UK electoral quota. It will be a matter for the Boundary Commissions to interpret the legislation as they conduct the boundary review.

Electoral Systems: Referendums

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of counting votes for parliamentary constituencies under  (a) the alternative vote system and  (b) the first past the post system.

Mark Harper: The estimate made before the general election in May 2010 of the cost of counting the votes at that poll was £6 million. This was based on estimates of turnout in each constituency and the time it would take to verify and count the number of ballot papers.
	The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, introduced on 22 July, sets out the detail of the alternative vote system that is to be the subject of the referendum. It is, however, not possible to quantify with certainty what the extra cost of counting votes under the alternative vote would be: this will be dependent to a significant extent on the preferences expressed by voters.
	In a general election using the alternative vote system, the count process may take longer in cases where no candidate wins outright on the first round as it will be necessary in these cases to count the further preferences of voters in order to determine the winning candidate. This will take some extra time, although precisely how much is difficult to predict as it would depend on how many candidates won outright on the first round, and how many further rounds of counting were necessary to determine the winner. As now, voter turnout, the total number of votes cast and any re-counting of votes will also impact upon the length and cost of the count. We have not yet made a detailed estimate of the cost that would result from different combinations of turnout, voting patterns and rounds of counting.

Electoral Systems: Reform

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of holding a general election under  (a) the first past the post system,  (b) the alternative vote system and  (c) other systems of proportional representation.

Mark Harper: Based on the information set out in the Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2010, the estimated cost of the conduct of the UK parliamentary election in Great Britain which was held under the first past the post system on 6 May is £82.1 million. This figure takes into account the reduced costs of holding the UK parliamentary election on the same day as local government elections. The estimated cost of the 2010 UK parliamentary election in Northern Ireland was £2.5 million. The overall figures will be finalised once all claims from acting returning officers in Great Britain and the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland (who are statutorily responsible for running the poll) have been received and finalised. The estimated cost of holding a stand-alone UK parliamentary election across the whole of the UK under the first past the post system is £92.1 million.
	The features of a general election using the alternative vote system would broadly be the same as under the existing system: for example, in terms of the provision of ballot papers and polling stations. However, it is not possible to quantify with certainty what would be the extra cost of counting votes under the alternative vote would be: this will be dependent to a significant extent on the preferences expressed by voters.
	We have not made any estimates of the possible cost of conducting a general election under other systems of proportional representation.

Members

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the reductions in public expenditure which will arise from the proposed reduction in the number of hon. Members following the next general election; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The reduction in the number of MPs could deliver savings of at least £12 million per annum. This takes into account MP's pay, pensions and expenses.

Political Parties: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward proposals on political donations and party funding; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister indicated during the debate on the address on 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 42 the Government will pursue an agreement on limiting donations and reforming party funding to remove big money from politics. We are considering our approach to party funding as part of the Government's overall programme of reforms, and an announcement will be made in due course.

Referendums

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to provide that only British citizens may vote in referendums.

Mark Harper: The Government have no plans to restrict the franchise for referendums in general so that only British citizens are eligible to vote. Although the legal requirements for referendums are set out in the Political Parties and Referendums Act 2000, the question of who is entitled to vote in any particular referendum will be considered and determined in the light of the subject matter of that referendum. The franchise for the referendum on the Alternative Vote system is set out in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, which the Government published on Thursday 22 July. Anyone who is entitled to vote in Westminster parliamentary elections will be entitled to vote in the referendum-this means that British, Republic of Ireland and qualifying Commonwealth citizens who are aged over 18 and who are registered to vote in parliamentary elections can vote in the referendum. In addition, those members of the House of Lords who are eligible to vote in local or European parliamentary elections will be eligible to vote in this referendum.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Billing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of payments made by his Department to  (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and  (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) made the following percentage of payments to suppliers within 10 days of receipt of invoice:
	
		
			  2010  Percentage 
			 April 87 
			 May 95 
			 June 98 
		
	
	It is not possible to isolate payments made to small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers.
	On 12 April, responsibility for policing and justice in Northern Ireland was devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive. During the time leading up to devolution, the Department had to refocus priorities and this led to a reduction in prompt payment performance in April 2010. It has subsequently returned to achieve the target to pay 95% of suppliers within 10 working days.
	It is not possible to isolate the information relating to payments made within agreed payment terms.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has paid to trade unions in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the monetary value of facilities provided by his Department for use by trade unions in each year since 1997.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), as it is now configured post the devolution of policing and justice powers on 12 April, has staff representatives and not full-time dedicated trade union representatives. They are not paid for this role. Dedicated facilities are not provided.

JUSTICE

Art Works

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on works of art since 2005.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) came into existence in May 2007, encompassing the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and part of the Home Office.
	For new builds and refurbishments, artwork is considered part of the fixtures and fittings and isn't separately accounted for.
	The only specific expenditure on artwork in 2007-08 and 2008-09 related to art installations in the Ministry of Justice's then newly refurbished headquarters building at 102 Petty France (formerly Queen Anne's Gate). This work was originally commissioned at an estimated cost of £470,000. This was later revised down to £290,000. £208,000 was spent in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and a further £45,000 in 2009-10 bringing the work in under budget at £253,000.
	A further £98,000 was spent in 2009-10, £97,000 related to the newly renovated Supreme Court building in Middlesex Guildhall. The Ministry of Justice was responsible for setting up the Supreme Court which has operated as an independent Government Department since October 2009. The remaining £1,000 was incurred by Her Majesty's Courts Service.

Claims Standards Council: Codes of Practice

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons Kerobo's licence for claims management was suspended; what process his Department undertook before lifting that suspension; on what date that suspension was lifted; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: Businesses providing regulated claims management services must comply with strict conduct rules as a condition of their authorisation. The Claims Management Regulation Unit at the Ministry of Justice investigates any suspected breaches of the rules. Appropriate enforcement action is taken, in line with the statutory powers provided under the Compensation Act 2006 and the claims management regulation enforcement policy, against businesses that have failed to comply.
	The authorisation of Kerobo Claims Limited was suspended because the business had breached the conduct rules. Suspension is a measure that prohibits a business from providing regulated services for a defined period, during which the breaches may be addressed. Where a business is able to take steps to comply with the rules, its authorisation may be reinstated. Kerobo agreed to a number of strict undertakings, which it has published on its website, and suspension was lifted on 8 July 2010. Those undertakings prevent the business from taking on new clients but enable it to complete existing claims for those clients who wish to proceed and to make refunds to customers to whom they are due.

Claims Standards Council: Codes of Practice

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department takes to monitor licensed claims management companies' compliance with regulatory requirements; what process it follows to investigate suspected breaches of such compliance; which claims management companies have been so investigated in the last two years; and what the outcome was in each case.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Claims Management Regulation Unit in the Ministry of Justice uses a number of methods to monitor compliance with the regulatory requirements.
	When a business is authorised they are risk rated. Businesses considered as medium or high risk are actively monitored and regular information is sought on consumer contracts, claims acquisition methods, referral arrangements and the content of marketing materials to assess whether the claims management service being provided is compliant. The Claims Management Regulation Unit receives significant intelligence from on average 1,500 contacts per month from consumers, other enforcement bodies such as trading standards departments and organisations that receive claims.
	Where analysis of this information identified suspected rule breaches the relevant claims management businesses may be subject to a paper or on site audit, directed to take remedial actions, issued with warnings, required to agree to formal undertakings. All investigations are conducted following the National Intelligence Model which is used by the police to gather and assess intelligence.
	Nearly 500 investigations have been conducted in the last two years. We are not able to publish the outcomes in respect of all individual businesses. In general the outcomes include no further action as the business has immediately complied, the agreement of specific undertakings, attachment of additional conditions on the businesses' authorisation and the suspension or cancellation of authorisation. 191 cancellations have been issued since the introduction of statutory regulation in 2007. Details of all the businesses suspended or cancelled are posted on the claims management website at:
	www.claimsregulation.gov.uk

Convictions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the conviction rate for  (a) theft,  (b) burglary of a dwelling and  (c) offences of domestic violence when calculated from the initial complaint was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The conviction rate for defendants proceeded against for offences of theft, and burglary in a dwelling, England and Wales, from 1999 to 2008 (latest available), is given in the table as follows. Information on when the initial complaint was made is not available centrally on the court proceedings database.
	The court proceedings database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This information does not include the circumstances of each case or hold specific information on offences beyond descriptions provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought. It is not possible to separately identify domestic violence offences from other offences of assault and violence against the person.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned for publication on 21 October 2010.
	
		
			  N umber of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty at all courts and the conviction rate( 1)  for theft, and burglary in a dwelling, England and Wales, 1999 to 2008( 2, 3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Conviction rate (percentage) 
			  Theft
			 1999 144,520 114,061 79 
			 2000 142,480 113,230 79 
			 2001 143,702 113,925 79 
			 2002 143,838 114,174 79 
			 2003 133,491 106,899 80 
			 2004 119,407 99,626 83 
			 2005 110,671 94,279 85 
			 2006 105,995 91,025 86 
			 2007 111,877 98,144 88 
			 2008(4) 114,612 103,407 90 
			 
			  Burglary in a dwelling
			 1999 26,211 16,387 63 
			 2000 23,487 14,471 62 
			 2001 23,441 13,684 58 
			 2002 24,636 14,622 59 
			 2003 23,644 14,540 61 
			 2004 20,310 13,503 66 
			 2005 18,226 12,820 70 
			 2006 17,142 12,442 73 
			 2007 17,570 13,138 75 
			 2008(4) 18,123 13,471 74 
			 (1 )Proportion of defendants proceeded against who were found guilty. (2 )The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4 )Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Convictions

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the process by which convictions become spent.

Crispin Blunt: The process by which convictions become spent is governed by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; I have met groups, such as Nacro and Unlock, who have an interest in this Act. The Ministry of Justice is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of sentencing and rehabilitation policies, which will involve consideration of the implications for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Corruption: Legislation

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what meetings he and his officials have had with  (a) non-governmental organisations and  (b) business organisations on guidance under section 9 of the Bribery Act 2010;
	(2)  what written representations he has received on the guidance to be produced under section 9 of the Bribery Act 2010.

Kenneth Clarke: Since taking office, no meetings have been held with non-governmental organisations or business organisations on guidance under section 9 of the Bribery Act. We have received written representations from the CBI, International Chamber of Commerce, GlaxoSmithKline, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, Transparency International (UK), Tearfund and the Bond Governance Group on the guidance under section 9 and the implementation of the Act generally.
	We announced on 20 July that we would be holding a public consultation exercise on the form and content of guidance to be issued under section 9 of the Act, beginning in late summer with a view to publishing guidance early in the new year in preparation for commencement of the Act in the spring of 2011.

Debt Collection

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the number of individuals that will enter into debt management plans where fees have been charged in each month until the end of 2010;
	(2)  which organisations responded to the consultation on debt management schemes that closed on 18 December 2009; and when a Government response to that consultation will be published.

Jonathan Djanogly: There are currently very little empirical data relating to debt management plans. It is estimated that 100,000 to 150,000 individual plans are created each year. However, there are no definitive data on the proportion of these where fees are charged.
	The consultation on debt management schemes that closed on 18 December 2009 looked at the way that debtors deal with their indebtedness. It asked for evidence on whether the powers contained in chapter 4 of part 5 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act (TCEA) 2007 to approve operators of debt management schemes (DMS) should be introduced or whether the taking of other steps to make sure that debtors are protected and creditors' interests are safeguarded would be more appropriate.
	An initial impact assessment was published alongside the consultation paper which considered the potential effectiveness of all of the options contained in the consultation paper. The impact assessment contained a number of questions which sought to obtain information relating to debt management plans. However, the few responses to these questions contained very little factual information relating to these plans.
	A total of 57 responses to the consultation were received from a variety of organisations, including those from the creditor, debt management scheme operator, debt advice, legal and Government sectors as well as individuals.
	Officials at the MoJ have recently completed a full analysis of the views and opinions offered by all interested parties to the debt management consultation and the Government intend to publish their response to the consultation shortly.

Departmental Operating Costs

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to reduce the running costs of his Department since his appointment.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice has made progress in reducing its running costs and has plans in place to reduce these costs further.
	Under the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR07), the Department agreed to deliver over £1 billion net of costs and cash releasing Value for Money savings by 2010-11 equating to over 3% per annum and a 5% real reduction in the Department's administration budget. Initiatives contributing to these savings include:
	Specification, Benchmarking and Costing in the National Offender Management Service. This is a framework of costed specifications for all offender services delivered in prisons which drive better commissioning of outcomes and ensure resources are targeted at the most effective work with offenders.
	Reducing regional and headquarters overheads across Her Majesty's Courts Service.
	Introducing standard operation procedures in the tribunals system through the use of Lean methodology, which is examining how work is processed and the efficiencies that can be realised by transferring processing activities to one location.
	The Department has also identified further savings of £325 million for 2010-11 as part of the Government's £6.2 billion Emergency Budget, implemented to tackle the national deficit. These savings, and a number of new financial controls, have been targeted to protect the most essential front line work and reduce running costs by:
	Further reducing discretionary spend in areas such as consultancy, travel, events and postage, including in our arm's length bodies.
	Reviewing change programmes and information and communications technology spend and a moratorium on all new information and communications technology projects above £1 million.
	Further tightening recruitment through a recruitment freeze on all but essential front line and business critical posts, which will also be subject to robust internal controls and challenge.
	Putting a freeze across the Ministry of Justice including its arm's length bodies, during 2010-11, on all new advertising and marketing with robust internal controls and challenge on activity under £25,000 or applications for exemptions.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) employs over 94,500 staff in headquarters and its four Executive agencies-the National Offender Management Service (including 35 local probation trusts), Her Majesty's Courts Service, the Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian. In the 2009-10 financial year, remuneration paid to directly employed staff on both open and fixed ended contracts came to £2.6 billion.
	A more detailed breakdown will soon be available in the MoJ Resource Accounts 2009-10 which will be presented to Parliament in the near future.

Domestic Violence: Children

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether a member of staff in each secure training centre has  (a) made alternate elbow strikes to a child's ribs,  (b) used extended fingers to strike a child in the groin area and  (c) used an inverted knuckle driven inward and upward into a child's sternum in each of the last five years; and for what purpose in each case.

Crispin Blunt: These techniques, called 'breakaway techniques', can only be used lawfully by staff in extreme circumstances as self-defence when their own safety is genuinely at risk. Data provided by the Youth Justice Board indicate that no members of staff in secure training centres have used any of these techniques in the past five years.

Fines: Surcharges

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the merits of reversing his Department's decision to require courts to charge a victim's surcharge for crimes in circumstances in which no victim of crime is identified; and if he will take steps to raise more revenue by seeking to collect previously uncollected fines.

Crispin Blunt: HM Courts Service (HMCS) takes the issue of fine enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure we clamp down on fine dodgers. Collecting outstanding debt is a continued priority nationwide.
	We have no plans to curtail the current application of the surcharge, even for offences where there is not a known identified victim. This Government take all crime seriously and recognise the potential for causing harm and the undesirable impact on society. I therefore have no plans to exclude these offenders from the responsibility of contributing directly to support for victims.
	However, we do not want the victim surcharge to continue to disproportionately impact motorists. Officials are exploring the means of extending the surcharge to other disposals.

Immigration: Asylum

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) immigration and  (b) asylum new matter starts were issued where (i) an appeal had already been lodged and (ii) a previous matter start had been issued to a previous legal representative for that appeal in (A) 2008 and (B) 2009.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission does not hold data in a form to provide the information requested. Matter Starts (or New Matter Starts) are awarded to legal aid service providers on an annual basis. Providers are entitled to use these matter starts where a client's case satisfies the statutory means and merits test.

Magistrates Courts: Closures

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to HM Courts Service's consultation on proposals on the provision of courts services in North and West Yorkshire, what assessment he has made of the estimate that  (a) the closure of Keighley magistrates court would result in maintenance savings of around £225,000 and  (b) the closure of Keighley county court would result in maintenance savings of around £475,000.

Jonathan Djanogly: As indicated in the consultation papers, if these courts were to close it would remove the need for HMCS investment in backlog maintenance. These are not, therefore, savings but cost-avoidance.
	The maintenance backlog figures given in the consultation papers are based on data as at July 2009 (the most recent at time of publication). The figures will be updated with July 2010 data for the purpose of the impact assessment which will be published alongside the consultation responses.
	Closure of all 157 courts covered in the consultation would achieve running cost savings of around £15.3 million per year. These courts also have backlog maintenance of around £21.5 million, costs that can be avoided if the closures go ahead.

Miscarriages of Justice

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases his Department has discussed with the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the last two years following allegations of miscarriages of justice being drawn to the Department's attention.

Jonathan Djanogly: Neither Ministers nor officials from the Ministry of Justice have discussed any cases with the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the last two years. Such discussions would be inappropriate given the Commission's independence in its consideration of individual cases.

Money Laundering: Convictions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there have been for offences related to money laundering in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for offences of money laundering, England and Wales, from 2004 to 2008 (latest available), is given in the table.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned for publication on 21 October 2010.
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for 'money laundering offences'( 1) , England and Wales, 2004 - 08( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) 
			   Found guilty 
			 2004 209 
			 2005 596 
			 2006 1,276 
			 2007 1,348 
			 2008 1,286 
			 (1) Includes offences under: Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Sec 49 (previously Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990, Sec 14); Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Sec 50 (previously Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986, Sec 24); Drug Trafficking Act 1994 , Sec 51 (previously S23A Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 as inserted by S16 Criminal Justice Act 1993); Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Sec 52; Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Sec 53; Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 93A as inserted by S29 Criminal Justice Act 1993; Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 93B as inserted by S30 Criminal Justice Act 1993; Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 93C as inserted by S31 Criminal Justice Act 1993; Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 93D as inserted by S32 Criminal Justice Act 1993; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 327 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 328 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 329 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 330 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 331 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 332 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sees 333 and 334(1); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sec 336; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sec 342; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sec 359(3) and (4); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sec 359(1) and (2); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sec 366(1) and (2); Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Sec 366(3) and (4); (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice

Prison Sentences

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the Parole Board to have completed processing the backlog of assessments for prisoners during imprisonment for public protection sentences under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2005.

Crispin Blunt: The Parole Board has been working hard with its sponsor unit in the Ministry of Justice to recruit additional members to help deal with the backlog of oral hearings. The recruitment of 59 judges and 48 independent members (including specialists) is now complete. The large programme of training necessary to allow them to sit on parole panels will be completed in October. The board is already sitting a record number of oral panels: In 2009-10 it considered 1,432 Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) sentenced prisoners. The board estimates that the current backlog will be reduced by around 25% over the course of 2010-11 and will be eliminated during 2012-13.

Prison Sentences

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are serving a sentence for imprisonment for public protection by  (a) age band and  (b) gender; and how many (i) have exceeded their tariff and (ii) have not completed offender treatment programmes in each such case.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the number of offenders serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) or detention for public protection (DPP) on 5 July 2010 and the number of these who were past tariff on that date, broken down by gender and age-band. These figures do not include offenders who have been released on licence and remain in the community.
	The figures in the table are rounded to the nearest 10.
	
		
			   Women  Men  All 
			  Age band  Total  Past tariff  Total  Past tariff  Total  Past tariff 
			 Less than 18 (1)5 0 40 (1)5 40 (1)5 
			 18-20 (1)5 (1)5 250 70 250 70 
			 21-24 20 20 1,120 550 1,140 570 
			 25-29 40 30 1,320 640 1,350 670 
			 30-39 60 40 1,550 740 1,610 780 
			 40-49 30 20 1,140 480 1,170 500 
			 50-59 10 10 380 180 390 180 
			 60 and over (1)5 (1)5 170 90 170 90 
			  170 110 5,960 2,750 6,130 2,850 
			 (1) Less than 
		
	
	The figures were taken from the Public Protection Unit Database (PPUD) in the National Offender Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing. The PPUD is a live database, updated on a regular basis. As a result, snapshots taken on consecutive days will contain differences reflecting updates.
	The requested breakdown of the number of offenders who have not completed offending behaviour programmes can currently be obtained only by incurring disproportionate cost.
	IPP prisoners may be identified as suitable for inclusion in specific offending behaviour programmes, depending on the nature of their offending and their identified risk factors. The total number of offenders serving an IPP sentence in prison who had not completed at least one course by 5 July 2010 was 2,120. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 10. This information was taken from a database held by the Public Protection and Mental Health Group at the National Offender Management Service.

Prison: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on constructing a new prison in north Wales.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has been conducting a search since October 2009 for suitable sites for a new 1,500 place prison in North Wales (as well as in other areas of strategic need).
	At the present time, several sites in the North Wales area have been suggested by members of the public and local authorities. Preliminary scoring of these and others identified is still being carried out. No decisions have yet been taken.
	Along with other Government Departments, the Ministry of Justice is currently subject to a spending review. Any final decisions on new capacity, as well as long-term decisions on prison capacity programmes, are subject to the outcome of this review.

Prisoners: Drugs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were caught in possession of drugs in each of the last three years; and how many of these had their prison sentence lengthened as a result.

Crispin Blunt: Data on adjudications count the number of offences and punishments given rather than the number of prisoners charged with those offences. The following table gives details of offences punished, the total number of punishments given and the number of times additional days were given as a punishment for possession of drugs in 2007, 2008 and 2009:
	
		
			  Possession of a controlled drug 
			   2007  2008  2009 
			 Number of offences 1,292 1,074 1,048 
			 Number of punishments given 2,154 1,788 1,698 
			 Of which additional days given 422 351 415 
			  Source: Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2007 to 2009 
		
	
	The figures are taken from Table 8.4 of the Ministry of Justice Statistics bulletin 'Offender Management Caseload Statistics' for 2007, 2008 and 2009, available at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Legal Aid

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much of the legal aid budget was spent on cases involving prisoners in each of the last three years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Legal aid expenditure in the prison law category, including free standing advice and assistance and advocacy assistance at prison discipline and parole board hearings, during each of the three most recent years for which figures are available is shown in the following table. The expenditure for 2009-10 will be available once the Legal Services Commission have published their accounts.
	
		
			   Prison law expenditure (£ million) 
			 2006-07 12.49 
			 2007-08 15.99 
			 2008-09 21.61 
		
	
	These figures do not include criminal legal aid for trials or any appeals against conviction or sentence.
	Prisoners may also receive legal aid in civil categories of law. It is not possible to identify how much legal aid other than prison law was spent on prisoners as the status of an individual as a prisoner does not form part of the criteria for granting legal aid. Prisoners seeking legal aid, like other legal aid applicants, must satisfy the means test and merits test for legal aid.

Prisoners: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of people who had previously served community sentences or other non-custodial sentences were sent to prison for  (a) one year or less and  (b) more than one year in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: Figures for the number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody for indictable offences, by sentence length and previous sentence history are presented in the following table, for years 2006 to 2008, the most recent data available.
	The figures shown are a further breakdown of the criminal history statistics presented in chapter 6 of "Sentencing Statistics 2008" which was published on 28 January 2010 and can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	The figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			  Occasions when a custodial sentence was given for an indictable offence( 1) , England and Wales, 2006-08 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			  Custodial sentence of one year or less
			 Number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody 55,978 57,717 61,641 
			  Of which:
			 Number with at least one previous non-custodial sentence 49,824 50,645 54,375 
			 Percentage with at least one previous non-custodial sentence 89.0 87.7 88.2 
			 
			  Custodial sentence of more than one year
			 Number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody 27,003 26,820 29,095 
			  Of which:
			 Number with at least one previous non-custodial sentence 22,429 21,886 23,562 
			 Percentage with at least one previous non-custodial sentence 83.1 81.6 81.0 
			 
			  Custodial sentence of any length
			 Number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody 82,981 84,537 90,736 
			  Of which:
			 Number with at least one previous non-custodial sentence 72,253 72,531 77,937 
			 Percentage with at least one previous non-custodial sentence 87.1 85.8 85.9 
			 (1) The figures are counts of primary offences as recorded on the Police National Computer. An offender who received a custodial sentence on more than one occasion during this period will appear in these figures on each occasion.

Prisoners: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners had their sentence lengthened while in prison in the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: This information is not held in the precise form requested. The National Offender Management Service records the number of findings of guilt against prisoners at internal disciplinary hearings (adjudications) where additional days were imposed. This information is given in the following table. Some prisoners may have received more than one award of added days.
	
		
			  Number of punishments of additional days imposed 
			   Punishments 
			 2005 12,040 
			 2006 12,566 
			 2007 13,460 
			 2008 12,792 
			 2009 11,550

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many attacks on prison staff were made by prisoners in each of the last three years; and how many prisoners had their prison sentence lengthened as a result in each of those years.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service does not record the number of attacks on prison staff, rather it records assault incidents in which one or more members of staff has been assaulted.
	The following table shows the number of all recorded assault incidents in which a member of staff has been assaulted and/or injured in each of the last three years:
	
		
			   Assault incidents 
			 2007 3,243 
			 2008 3,187 
			 2009 2,830 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of findings of guilt against prisoners at internal disciplinary hearings (adjudications) for assaults on staff, and punishments of additional days awarded:
	
		
			   2007  2008  2009 
			 Assaults on staff 2,837 2,903 2,443 
			 Additional days 600 460 393 
		
	
	The figures refer to all incidents recorded as assaults, these may also include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact events and allegations.

Prisons: Drugs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times sniffer dogs have been used to search for drugs in prisons in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: The data requested are not held centrally. To obtain such information would require a detailed survey of each prison establishment which would be at disproportionate cost.
	The prisons National Security Framework requires that each prison has a local security strategy, within which is detailed the type and frequency of searches to be undertaken using drugs detection dogs in given circumstances. This varies from prison to prison according to the level and type of prisoner drug misuse in each prison. All prisons have access to search dog capability.

Prisons: Visits

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many closed visits there were in prisons in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of those visits.

Crispin Blunt: In 2008-09, the last year for which data are available, 1,543 visitors to prisons were made subject to a period of closed visits following a visiting ban, 374 visitors were made subject to a period of closed visits instead of a visiting ban, and 1,871 prisoners were made subject to a period of closed visits.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The figures are not subject to audit.
	The cost of operating closed visits cannot be disaggregated from the overall operating costs of prison visits.

Secure Training Centres: Children

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many referrals made to local authorities of section 47 of the Child Act 1989 concerning a child or children held in a secure training centre were made by  (a) centre staff,  (b) staff of the Youth Justice Board,  (c) independent advocates,  (d) Ofsted staff,  (e) a child,  (f) a child's relatives and  (g) another person or organisation in the last five years;
	(2)  on how many occasions a referral under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 has been made to a local authority following a restraint incident in each of the last five years; and what steps were taken by  (a) the local authority,  (b) the relevant police force and  (c) prosecuting authorities in consequence.

Crispin Blunt: The available information is as follows. The table shows the number of referrals by secure training centres (STCs) in the past five years, using data provided by the STCs. These related to incidents: in custody; during the young person's earlier placements; or while the young person was in the community.
	
		
			  Total 
			 2006 102 
			 2007 106 
			 2008 93 
			 2009 111 
			 2010 82 
		
	
	In cases where YJB staff consider that a matter should be referred to the local authority, then, unless the matter concerns the director of the centre, it is processed through the centre's child protection arrangements. There have been no separate referrals by YJB staff to local authorities under section 47 in the last five years.
	The Government do not collect data centrally on the sources of, or reasons for, referrals to children's social care, which is a local authority responsibility.

Shoplifting: Unpaid Fines

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the level of non-payment of fines for offences relating to theft from shops in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: HMCS systems do not identify how many fines are paid for specific offences and therefore an assessment of the level of non-payment for fines imposed for theft from shops could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual search of all fine accounts.
	Her Majesty's Courts Service has in place a strategy to increase the success of compliance with court orders particularly with regard to financial penalties-the Criminal Compliance and Enforcement Services Blueprint. This was launched in July 2008 and is being implemented across HMCS. The blueprint sets out HMCS's strategic objective for enforcement which is for a cheaper, faster and more proportionate system that primarily focuses on 'first time' compliance while continuing to apply the principles of rigorous enforcement to the hard core of defaulters.

Unpaid Fines

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the monetary value was of uncollected fines levied as a result of convictions for criminal offences on the latest date for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: The amount outstanding for financial penalties at the end of June 2010 was £597,926,217.
	The value of outstanding balance includes the amount owed for fines imposed in the magistrates and Crown courts plus compensation, victims surcharge, costs and the value of unpaid fixed penalty notices that are transferred to HMCS for enforcement as a fine. The outstanding balance has risen through the application of a strict policy that only allows fines to be written off in certain circumstances. The outstanding balance includes fines imposed a number of years ago during the period when fines could not be cancelled (2004-06) and fines which are being paid by instalments. Some of the balance outstanding could be as much as 10 years old.
	There was a large increase in the amount outstanding in April 2010 due to one fine for £8.3 million being imposed against a company, of which only £2 million has been paid so far and they have been ordered to pay the remainder in instalments starting from December 2010.

Unpaid Fines

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much is owed to the Exchequer in outstanding fines imposed by courts; and what steps the Government plans to take to recuperate all such outstanding fines.

Jonathan Djanogly: The amount outstanding for financial penalties at the end of June 2010 was £597,926,217.
	The value of outstanding balance includes the amount owed for fines imposed in the magistrates and crown courts plus compensation, victims surcharge, costs and the value of unpaid fixed penalty notices that are transferred to HMCS for enforcement as a fine. The outstanding balance has risen through the application of a strict policy that only allows fines to be written off in certain circumstances. The outstanding balance includes fines imposed a number of years ago during the period when fines could not be cancelled (2000-06) and fines which are being paid by instalments. Some of the balance outstanding could be as much as 10 years old. There was a large increase in the amount outstanding in April 2010 due to one fine for £8.3 million being imposed against a company, of which only £2 million has been paid so far and they have been ordered to pay the remainder in instalments starting from December 2010.
	Her Majesty's Courts Service has in place a strategy to increase the success of compliance with court orders particularly with regard to financial penalties-the Criminal Compliance and Enforcement Services Blueprint. This was launched in July 2008 and is being implemented across HMCS. The blueprint sets out HMCS's strategic objective for enforcement which is for a cheaper, faster and more proportionate system that primarily focuses on 'first time' compliance while continuing to apply the principles of rigorous enforcement to the hard core of defaulters. The blueprint implementation ensures greater use of the sanctions available under the Courts Act 2003 and extended methods of payment
	Performance in relation to the collection of financial penalties is being closely monitored across all areas of HMCS and any area where performance is below target is being challenged by a central team who will assist the area in identifying areas for improvement and set targets for increased collection.
	In the 2009-10 financial year HMCS collected £259,241,082 which was £12.5 million (5%) more cash against financial penalties than in the 2008-09 year.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Members: Correspondence

Glenda Jackson: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the  (a) longest,  (b) shortest and  (c) average time has been for staff of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to reply to an email from an hon. Member.

Charles Walker: At present, IPSA aims to respond to all e-mails and letters within five working days. Historical data regarding the timeframe for responding to queries received to date are not readily available. However, IPSA has recently introduced a new case management system which will improve the response time to e-mails, letters and telephone queries; and ensure accurate records of correspondence between Members and IPSA. Once this system is fully rolled out across IPSA, IPSA will provide Members with information on its performance against these and other service targets.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Environment Protection

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what priorities she has set for research and development expenditure on projects to increase agricultural production and protect the environment; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Research and development is crucial to help the farming industry raise production in harmony with the environment and contribute to the global challenge of food security.
	DEFRA's agricultural research and development has over recent years focused on the development of sustainable farming systems, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, protecting against pests and diseases, and improving animal health and welfare.
	The new Technology Strategy Board, DEFRA and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council innovation platform for sustainable agriculture and food will invest up to £90 million over the next five years in match-funding to industry for agricultural research.

Air Pollution

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to respond to the Fifth Report of the Environment Audit Committee, Session 2009-10, HC229, on Air Quality.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is preparing a response to this report in consultation with other Government Departments and expects to publish it in the autumn.

Bears: Conservation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make representations to international agencies on the enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in respect of the farming in Asia of species of bear for bile.

Richard Benyon: Unless domestic practices are stimulating international trade, the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) does not restrict such activities. Nevertheless, whereas CITES does not prohibit the domestic "farming" of captive-bred specimens of appendix I species-such as Asiatic black bears-it does regard them as being included in appendix II of the convention and thus requiring appropriate certification if the animals, or products from them, are to be subject to international trade. CITES certification focuses on the conservation impact of international trade and is meant to ensure that such trade is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
	Should we be made aware that international trade was taking place, we would of course pass that information to appropriate authorities, including the CITES Secretariat, to verify whether it was being done in accordance with the relevant CITES controls and requirements.
	In the UK we take a precautionary approach and ban all commercial trade in bear bile or gall bladders irrespective of their source.

British Waterways: Compensation

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether British Waterways plans to compensate  (a) boat owners and  (b) business owners affected by the temporary closure of a stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Richard Benyon: British Waterways is not able to refund license or mooring fees. The terms and conditions of mooring agreements and boat licenses explain that historic canals may on occasion need to be closed due to circumstances beyond British Waterways' reasonable control. The planned closure of one section of the Leeds and Liverpool canal is due to the severe drought. British Waterways have been working with affected boat businesses to minimise the impact of the closure, including assistance with relocation to other unaffected areas.

Coastal Erosion

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the merits of redesignating her departmental responsibility for coastal erosion as her departmental responsibility for coastal protection.

Richard Benyon: The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 provides for flood and coastal erosion risk management which will enable a wide range of approaches for dealing with these threats. Risk management includes, but is wider than, coastal protection. It will allow community-based adaptation approaches, such as the current coastal change pathfinder programme, where appropriate. Protection is not the only option or always affordable, sustainable or appropriate, especially where it increases the risk to others. Renaming our departmental responsibility for coastal erosion could narrow and limit our role in this area.

Common Agricultural Policy

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Common Agricultural Policy funding she expects farmers in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) Essex and  (d) Witham constituency to receive in the next five years.

James Paice: It is not possible to provide figures for the next five years, both because payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy are made in response to applications from farmers and land managers and because the current CAP Budget comes to an end in 2013. As an indication, however, farmers in the UK received approximately £3.3 billion in the year ending 15 October 2009 for direct aids and rural development schemes under the CAP, which included £2.1 billion in England. The UK paying agencies do not record information on payments at county or constituency level. Further information can be found on DEFRA's website.

Dangerous Dogs

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on kennelling dogs whose classification under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was subject to a court case in  (a) England,  (b) London and  (c) the London Borough of Ealing in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Paice: holding answer 21 July 2010
	The cost to police forces across England, in London and in the London borough of Ealing of kennelling dogs whose classification under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was subject to a court case cannot be provided because these figures are not held centrally.

Departmental Billing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Department does not hold this information and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain it.

Departmental Billing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of payments made by her Department to  (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and  (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available.

Richard Benyon: The Department does not distinguish between small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and all other suppliers in its payment processes.
	From information held centrally for the core Department the following table shows performance over the period April to June 2010.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Core DEFRA  10 day performance  Normal supplier terms performance 
			 April 92.2 99.8 
			 May 85.1 98.4 
			 June 91.0 99.2

Departmental Buildings

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on office refurbishment in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: Information for years prior to 2001-02 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Spend against DEFRA's Capital Investment programme, on new and refurbishment projects has been identified as (rounded to the nearest £1 million):
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2001-02 5 
			 2002-03 9 
			 2003-04 13 
			 2004-05 24 
			 2005-06 22 
			 2006-07 18 
			 2007-08 26 
			 2008-09 16 
			 2009-10 7 
		
	
	During this period the following projects were undertaken and completed for Core DEFRA, RPA, Animal Health and MMO but is excluding projects for VLA, VMD, CSL and CEFAS and any property disposal income.
	London, 3-8 Whitehall Place
	London, Nobel House
	London, 55 Whitehall
	London, Ergon House
	London, 9 Millbank
	Workington, BCMS Offices
	London, Eastbury House
	Reading, Northgate House
	Reading, Coley Park
	Lincoln, Ceres House
	Preston, Barton Hall
	Winchester, Itchin Abbas
	Caernarfon, North Penralt
	Leicester, Saffron House
	Stafford, Beacon House
	Shrewsbury, Sitka House
	Longhanborough, Unit 11
	Newcastle, The Waterfront
	Reading, Northgate House
	Stafford, RAF Stafford
	Worcester, Whittington Road
	London, Ashdown House
	York, Foss House
	York, Mallard House
	Alnwick, Lion House
	Norwich, Dragonfly House
	Newcastle, Lancaster House
	Carlisle, Edenbridge House
	Carlisle, Hadrian House
	Newcastle, The Quadrant
	Truro, Polwhele
	Exeter, Clyst House
	Reigate, Liberty House
	Gloucester, Saw Mills
	Bakewell, Endcliffe
	Manchester Airport, Building 308
	Heathersett, Station Court
	Carmarthen, Ty Merlin

Departmental Catering

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on catering in each year from 1997 to 2009.

Richard Benyon: The Department was formed in 2001.
	The catering contract was awarded and commenced in April 2005 serving London and the Guildford sites. At the DEFRA site in York the contract was awarded in April 2008. The costs shown in the following table refer to the actual cost of catering subsidy (the contribution made towards the staff restaurants which is a contractual obligation):
	
		
			  £ 
			  April to March each year  Guildford  Whitehall  Page  s treet  Nobel  h ouse  DEFRA  t otal  York 
			 2005-06 34,844 19,420 66,521 51,655 172,440 - 
			 2006-07 34,844 19,420 66,521 51,655 172,440 - 
			 2007-08 28,598 3,616 56,736 103,644 192,594 - 
			 2008-09 Site closed DECC Site closed 130,714 130,714 14,852 
			 2009-10 Site closed DECC Site closed 104,367 104,367 47,637 
		
	
	Costs incurred prior to 2001 are available only at disproportionate cost.
	Other catering costs, for example vending machines, are available only at disproportionate cost.
	The cost of hospitality for meetings (beverages and lunch) incurred by DEFRA London and Guildford sites is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Catering hospitality spend 
			  March to April  each year  Spend (£) 
			 2004-05 43,012 
			 2005-06 488,460 
			 2006-07 579,749 
			 2007-08 452,166 
			 2008-09 466,326 
			 2009-10 552,802 
			 Total 2,585,515 
		
	
	Costs incurred prior to 2001 are available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Contracts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the monetary value is of her Department's contracts with its suppliers which  (a) are under review and  (b) have been cancelled under her Department's plans to achieve cost savings.

Richard Benyon: Work on assessing our current contracts and identifying the scope for renegotiation or cancellation is under way following the announcements in the Budget. It is too early to say what will be the outcome in terms of number of contracts affected and likely savings involved in the activity.

Departmental ICT

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: In response to the amount spent on information and communication technology since 1997, the Department was not formed until 2001 and data between then and April 2006 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Data for all agencies and NDPBs since 2006 not shown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The amount coded to information and communication technology for Core DEFRA and its agencies and NDPBs available is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			  2006-07  
			 Core DEFRA 8,554,241.98 
			 Animal health 20,760.73 
			 MMO (formally MFA) 205,190.93 
			 Rural Payments Agency(1) 35,303.00 
			 Governments Decontamination Service /Merged with FERA 3,049.73 
			 VMD 228,000.00 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Core DEFRA 8,598,453.00 
			 Animal health 214,929.81 
			 MMO (formally MFA) 4,127.93 
			 Rural Payments Agency(1) 45,814.00 
			 Natural England(2) 43,946,000.00 
			 VMD 221,000.00 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Core DEFRA 6,547,640.82 
			 Animal health 107,979.13 
			 MMO (formally MFA) 53,425.22 
			 Rural Payments Agency(1) 43,876.00 
			 Natural England(3) 37,986,000.00 
			 VMD 276,000.00 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 Core DEFRA 5,643,124.80 
			 Animal health 111,149.58 
			 MMO (formally MFA) 169,531.87 
			 Rural Payments Agency(1) Not yet published 
			 Sustainable Development Commission 22,532.59 
			 Natural England(4) 39,673,000.00 
			 VMD 284,000.00 
			 (1) RPA Information Technology Costs-as published in Note 2 of the Annual Report and Accounts (2) 2007-08 including recharges from DEFRA for the Genesis IT system of £28,726,000 (3) 2008-09 including recharges from DEFRA for the Genesis IT system of £22,375,000 (4) 2009-10 including recharges from DEFRA for the Genesis IT system of £22,048,000  Notes: 1. Figures shown in italics are restated in the subsequent year for consistency 2. The 2009-10 accounts are not yet available as they have not been published 3. These charges exclude depreciation, amortisation and cost of capital

Departmental Official Cars

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on the Government Car Service since the Government took office.

Richard Benyon: The figures quoted are the invoiced figures from 12 May up to and including 12 July and are exclusive of VAT.
	The costs for DEFRA are £27,282.15.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: In response to the amount spent on "hospitality" since 1997, the Department was not formed until 2001 and data between then and April 2007 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The amount spent on hospitality each year since April 2007 for core DEFRA, its agencies and NDPBs that it holds data for is shown in the following table. Spend for those agencies and NDPBs since 2007 that is not shown could be given only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   £ 
			  2006-07  
			 Core DEFRA 377,379.69 
			 Animal Health 4,249.52 
			 MMO 3,507.68 
			 Governments Decontamination Service/merged with FERA 312.27 
			 VMD Nil 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Core DEFRA 332,549.31 
			 Animal Health 85.00 
			 MMO 4,854.80 
			 Rural Payments Agency 95,021.01 
			 Governments Decontamination Service/merged with FERA 517.94 
			 Natural England 274,070.00 
			 VMD 140.00 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Core DEFRA 81,994.85 
			 Animal Health - 
			 MMO 7,739.81 
			 Rural Payments Agency 93,518.21 
			 Governments Decontamination Service/merged with FERA 1,318.94 
			 Natural England 266,714.00 
			 VMD 525.00 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 Core DEFRA 405,841.19 
			 Animal Health 13,259.20 
			 MMO 11,528.36 
			 Rural Payments Agency 49,734.98 
			 Natural England 65,700.00 
			 Sustainable Development Commission 4,054.56 
			 VMD 86.00

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in her Department in 2009-10.

Richard Benyon: The following table summarises the total spent, by core DEFRA and its Executive Agencies, in 2009-10 for remuneration to civil servants. Figures are taken from the Resource Accounts of each organisation.
	
		
			  Organisation  Spend (£ million) 
			 Core DEFRA 120.95 
			 Animal Health 58.48 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 6.83 
			 Rural Payments Agency 95.8 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 42.57 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 20.56 
			 Food and Environment Research Agency 30.56

Departmental Secondment

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to increase the number of officials seconded from her Department to the EU institutions.

James Paice: My Department regularly identifies and evaluates opportunities that arise for secondments to the EU institutions. A budget is available to fund a number of opportunities in priority areas. These are advertised internally, and staff are encouraged to apply in order both to provide UK expertise to these bodies and to develop their own knowledge and skills for the benefit of the Department on their return from these time-limited posts. The establishment of the new European Fast Stream will assist in developing more candidates able to apply successfully both for such secondments, and for permanent posts within the institutions.

Departmental Stationery

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on stationery in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: In response to the amount spent on "stationery" since 1997, the Department was not formed until 2001 and data between then and April 2006 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For information on agencies and NDPBs not shown, the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The amount spent on stationery each year since April 2006 for core DEFRA its agencies and NDPBs that it holds data for is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			  2006-07  
			 Core DEFRA 1,200,136.86 
			 Animal Health 155,657.11 
			 MMO (formerly MFA) 21,478.76 
			 Government Decontamination Service/merged with FERA 7,232.88 
			 VMD 28,057.00 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Core DEFRA 409,527.44 
			 Animal Health 227,166.61 
			 MMO (formerly MFA) 23,768.94 
			 Government Decontamination Service/merged with FERA 5,547.27 
			 Natural England 277,309.00 
			 VMD 19,517.00 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Core DEFRA 401,394.97 
			 Animal Health 232,394.54 
			 MMO (formerly MFA) 55,695.98 
			 Government Decontamination Service/merged with FERA 3,593.89 
			 Natural England 250,575.00 
			 VMD 18,147.00 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 Core DEFRA 318,820.50 
			 Animal Health 230,184.68 
			 MMO (formerly MFA) 43,174.05 
			 Sustainable Development Commission. 7,568.69 
			 Natural England 256,075.00 
			 VMD 20,331.00

Departmental Training

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on employee away days in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: This information is not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All public expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on regularity and propriety. Subject to those principles business areas have discretion whether or not to hold away days having regard to the evaluation of alternative options and, value for money considerations.

Departmental Travel

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on travel for its employees in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: In response to the amount spent on "travel" since 1997, the Department was not formed until 2001 and data between then and April 2007 and for the other agencies and NDPB's spending outside of the CWT Contract could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Spend for those agencies and NDPBs since 2007 not shown could be given only at disproportionate cost.
	The amount spent on rail and air travel each year since April 2007 and split where data are available for Core DEFRA, its agencies and NDPBs is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Organisation  Travel type  Total (£) 
			 2007-08 Animal health Air 16,363.06 
			   Rail 36,946.40 
			 
			  Core DEFRA Air 1,473,240.53 
			   Rail 1,774,538.72 
			 
			  Governments Decontamination Service /Merged with FERA Air 36,570.37 
			   Rail 35,925.23 
			 
			  Natural England All 4,092,813.00 
			 
			  MMO (Formally MFA) Air 23,135.54 
			   Rail 20,079.71 
			 
			  Rural Payment Agency Air 334,166.82 
			   Rail 739,542.70 
			 
			  VMD All 102,217.00 
			 
			 2008-09 Animal Health Air 17,132.83 
			   Rail 46,731.77 
			 
			  Core DEFRA Air 1,390,903.23 
			   Rail 1,582,723.78 
			 
			  Governments Decontamination Service /Merged with FERA Air 58,530.01 
			   Rail 30,235.72 
			 
			  Natural England All 4,099,990.00 
			 
			  MMO (formally MFA) Air 13,379.46 
			   Rail 19,718.21 
			 
			  Rural Payment Agency Air 358,121.16 
			   Rail 1,009,982.32 
			 
			  VMD All 115,635.00 
			 
			 2009-10 Animal Health Air 39,293.16 
			   Rail 111,432.04 
			  Core DEFRA Air 2,504,318.00 
			   Rail 2,637,252.64 
			 
			  Governments Decontamination Service /Merged with FERA Rail 1,196.20 
			 
			  Natural England All 3,238,768.00 
			 
			  MMO (formally MFA) Air 11,269.10 
			   Rail 133,732.04 
			 
			  Rural Payment Agency Air 164,872.00 
			   Rail 834,243.00 
			 
			  VMD All 130,927.00

Departmental Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period.

Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 12 July 2010,  Official Report, column 455W, and 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 15W.
	In addition, the Government publish on a quarterly basis, the expenses incurred by the most senior officials which include use of the Government car service and other travel expenses.

Departmental Utilities

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on (i) electricity, (ii) water, (iii) heating and (iv) telephone services in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: The following amounts were spent on electricity, heating (gas, oil and Whitehall district heating system) since 2002-03 and on water since 2004-05. Information is not held prior to those dates. In addition, availability of historic telephone services expenditure varies from body to body according to their archiving strategy. Those data are therefore incomplete. These data cover the core Department, its executive agencies, and its two largest NDPBs, the Environment Agency and Natural England; information for all NDPBs could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  £ 
			   Energy costs  
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total  Water cost 
			 AH 278,862 106,372 2,115 0 387,349 61,966 
			 CEFAS 485,093 137,138 0 0 622,231 165,583 
			 DEFRA 875,180 294,258 0 8,628 1,178,066 37,673 
			 FERA 1,626,133 706,539 0 0 2,332,672 76,143 
			 MFA 20,867 5,687 3,200 0 29,754 1,504 
			 NE 247,335 84,797 0 0 332,132 45,867 
			 RPA 775,125 157,645 17,982 0 950,752 70,786 
			 VLA 1,891,799 2,217,256 188,525 0 4,297,580 157,340 
			 EA 6,217,000 474,000 219,000 0 6,910,000 261,000 
			 Total 12,417,394 4,183,692 430,822 8,628 17,040,536 877,862 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 -0 8 
			  £ 
			   Energy costs  
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total  Water cost 
			 AH 192,356 59,655 9,853 0 261,864 58,152 
			 CEFAS 379,799 90,529 0 0 470,328 165,069 
			 DEFRA 777,931 139,277 16,006 18,615 951,829 59,312 
			 FERA 1,198,146 460,979 291 0 1,659,416 81,782 
			 MFA 15,379 3,986 2,034 0 21,399 2,820 
			 NE 141,367 57,219 0 0 198,586 30,339 
			 RPA 537,396 113,370 18,277 0 669,043 72,001 
			 VLA 1,352,291 900,142 154,500 0 2,406,933 117,190 
			 EA 4,881,000 371,000 193,000 0 5,445,000 204,000 
			 Total 9,475,665 2,196,157 393,961 18,615 12,084,398 790,665 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  £ 
			   Energy costs  
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total  Water cost 
			 SVS 232,450 81,504 8,245 0 322,199 54,146 
			 CEFAS 479,818 129,615 0 0 609,433 120,161 
			 DEFRA 1,195,043 331,850 43,173 0 1,570,066 60,981 
			 FERA 1,703,661 683,929 550 0 2,388,140 71,856 
			 MFA 17,765 6,630 1,714 0 26,109 3,965 
			 NE (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 0 9,670 
			 RPA 771,553 150,898 10,370 0 932,821 72,365 
			 VLA 1,361,182 1,309,391 16,181 0 2,686,754 116,831 
			 EA 5,888,000 463,000 163,000 0 6,514,000 207,000 
			 Total 11,649,472 3,156,817 243,233 0 15,049,522 716,975 
			 (1) Included in DEFRA total. 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 -0 6 
			  £ 
			   Energy costs  
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total  Water cost 
			 SVS 244,208 99,160 13,073 0 356,441 38,187 
			 CEFAS 375,712 102,528 0 0 478,240 149,252 
			 DEFRA 892,036 257,315 52,115 26,930 1,228,396 62,948 
			 FERA 878,800 384,277 1,020 0 1,264,097 81,028 
			 MFA 13,277 3,073 2,321 0 18,671 1,555 
			 NE 308,620 106,930 0 0 415,550 40,740 
			 RPA 594,520 132,630 16,445 0 743,595 83,355 
			 VLA 853,598 930,284 16,395 0 1,800,277 106,569 
			 EA 3,973,000 353,000 136,000 0 4,462,000 242,000 
			 Total 8,133,771 2,369,197 237,369 26,930 10,767,267 563,634 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 -0 5 
			  £ 
			   Energy costs  
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total  Water cost 
			 SVS 212,738 77,715 11,626 0 302,079 33,809 
			 CEFAS 267,164 73,579 0 0 340,743 107,314 
			 DEFRA 626,563 134,261 24,945 105,771 891,540 44,617 
			 FERA 597,198 327,604 482 0 925,284 61,220 
			 MFA 11,972 1,622 1,431 0 15,025 1,058 
			 NE 244,122 85,731 0 0 329,853 27,304 
			 RPA 431,676 101,596 4,313 0 537,585 60,275 
			 VLA 388,395 657,494 19,288 0 1,065,177 38,784 
			 EA 4,707,000 486,000 296,000 0 5,489,000 221,000 
			 Total 2,779,828 1,459,602 62,085 105,771 9,896,286 595,381 
		
	
	
		
			  Energy costs 2003-04 
			  £ 
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total 
			 CEFAS 227,352 59,952 0 0 287,304 
			 DEFRA 978,977 301,090 53,100 126,647 1,459,814 
			 FERA 441,497 329,803 716 0 772,016 
			 RPA 309,387 95,806 6,897 0 412,090 
			 VLA 404,333 636,761 11,376 0 1,052,470 
			 EA - - - - - 
			 Total 2,361,546 1,423,412 72,089 126,647 3,983,694 
		
	
	
		
			  Energy costs 2002-03 
			  £ 
			   Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  Total 
			 CEFAS 222,188 71,597 0 0 293,785 
			 DEFRA 920,830 247,775 59,574 134,165 1,362,344 
			 FERA 707,190 276,445 0 0 983,635 
			 RPA 323,066 94,902 8,782 0 426,750 
			 VLA 409,803 646,925 31,315 0 1,088,043 
			 EA - - - - - 
			 Total 2,583,077 1,337,644 99,671 134,165 4,154,557 
		
	
	
		
			  Telephony costs 
			  £ 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 SVS - - - - 299,211 358,470 412,449 366,162 
			 CEFAS 119,221 152,585 95,862 80,943 95,677 90,544 90,389 67,512 
			 DEFRA - - - - - - - - 
			 FERA 82,531 76,262 66,737 72,243 68,275 65,558 51,726 55,142 
			 MFA - - - 17,325 19,453 16,028 16,364 19,454 
			 NE - - - - 787,690 519,536 63,482 44,686 
			 RPA - - - - 1,768,753 878,719 1,670,471 1,345,723 
			 VLA 106,419 131,082 102,323 90,941 77,414 65,192 19,390 69,312 
			 EA - - - 1,250,000 1,216,000 1,817,000 1,587,000 1,241,000 
			 Total 308,171 359,929 293,681 1,511,452 4,332,473 3,811,047 3,911,271 3,208,991 
		
	
	
		
			  Telephony costs 
			  £ 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			 SVS - - - - - 
			 CEFAS - 236,955 129,471 179,128 99,033 
			 DEFRA - - - - - 
			 FERA - - - - - 
			 MFA - - - - - 
			 NE - - - - - 
			 RPA - - - - - 
			 VLA - - 40,474 86,190 99,889 
			 EA - - - - - 
			 Total - 236,955 169,945 265,318 198,992 
		
	
	
		
			  Key to organisations 
			 AH Animal Health 
			 CEFAS Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 
			 DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
			 FERA Food and Environment Research Agency 
			 MFA Marine and Fisheries Agency 
			 MMO Marine Management Organisation 
			 NE Natural England 
			 RPA Rural Payments Agency 
			 SVS State Veterinary Service 
			 VLA Veterinary Laboratories Agency 
			 WDHS Whitehall District Heating System 
			  Notes:  1. The State Veterinary Service was formed on 1 April 2005; the organisation changed its name to Animal Health in April 2007. 2. MFA was formed 1 October 2005, the data in 2005-06 is for the whole year, we are unable to split the data before and after the agency was formed. The MFA was replaced by the MMO (an NDPB) on 1 April 2010.

Fisheries: EC Grants and Loans

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what EU grants are available for private storage of fisheries products; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Under Council Regulation 104/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and agriculture products, private storage aid may be granted to producer organisations for certain frozen fish products. The regulation will be reformed along with the common fisheries policy.

Fishing Limits

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will withdraw her Department's restriction on fishing for sole and skate in respect of  (a) Suffolk Coastal constituency and  (b) England; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Officials from the Marine Management Organisation are working very hard to secure additional North sea sole quota for the under 10 metre fleet. I have also asked representatives from across industry to consider possible options for immediate-term relief. If these prove successful, I hope that a limited reopening of the fishery may be possible in the near future. At this stage, I foresee little prospect of being able to reopen the skate fishery, where uptake has been consistent with previous years, and closure of the fishery occurred later than in 2009. I am committed to delivering the long-term reform of the inshore fleet that is clearly necessary to prevent a recurrence of the difficulties that it currently faces and to ensure its future sustainability. It is my intention that a public consultation on proposals for such reform will be launched in the latter part of this year.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish guidance on national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategies in England pursuant to the Floods and Water Management Act 2010.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency will be responsible for developing the national strategy and guidance for England.
	We expect the Agency to consult on the strategy and key guidance this autumn. This will give an opportunity for the public and parliamentary colleagues, including the EFRA committee, to provide comments and suggestions before a draft is submitted to Ministers for review.
	The national strategy and guidance will also heed to be laid before Parliament prior to being issued.

Food: Procurement

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote the procurement of food produced with the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions in the public sector.

James Paice: We are in the process of considering criteria for Government Buying Standards (GBS) to ensure the public sector procures sustainable food and catering services. GBS are mandatory for central Government Departments and their Executive agencies and the standards will be promoted to the wider public sector.
	DEFRA supported the development of PAS2050, a publicly available standard for calculating greenhouse gas footprints, which suppliers can use to report the footprint of their products. DEFRA-funded research demonstrated its applicability for food products.

Food: Procurement

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2010, to question 4421, on procurement of food, which public sector bodies have improved the quality and sustainability of the food they serve whilst maintaining or reducing the overall cost.

James Paice: In October 2008 DEFRA commissioned accounting and consultancy firm Deloitte to carry out an independent evaluation of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI).
	Deloitte's evaluation of the PSFPI was published by DEFRA in March 2009, and includes examples of public sector bodies which have improved the quality and sustainability of food procurement while reducing the overall cost. For example, the North East Public Sector Food Programme made cashable savings of over £165,000, Bradford City delivered 'better quality school meals at no extra cost' and Shropshire School Meals Service improved the quality of school fruit and vegetables while making an overall saving of 11%.

Incinerators: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will meet residents of Shrewsbury constituency to discuss the prospect of the construction of a waste incinerator in Shrewsbury.

Richard Benyon: Local authorities, rather than the Government, are responsible for deciding how waste is managed in their respective areas. Choice of technology must reflect local circumstances, which will vary. It is important that any plans for waste to energy facilities emerge out of local waste strategies, so that all options for reuse, recycling and composting can be explored first.

Inshore Fisheries

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the transitional funding for the creation of inshore fisheries and conservation authorities from former Sea Fisheries Committees.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is launching the transitional funding scheme on Monday 26 July 2010. This scheme is designed to assist existing Sea Fisheries Committees in preparing for the additional duties and functions they will have to perform when they vest as Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Packaging: Waste Management

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the remit of her review of waste management policy extends to consideration of the merits of a levy on waste packaging which does not break down quickly.

Richard Benyon: The terms of reference for the review of waste policies will be published shortly. The review will consider all aspects of waste policy and delivery in England.

Primates: Ownership

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to bring forward proposals for the further regulation of the ownership of primates.

James Paice: The welfare of primates is already governed by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. A code of practice for the welfare of privately kept non-human primates, made under the Act, came into force on 6 April this year. We have no plans to introduce any further measures regarding the ownership of primates.

Reservoirs: Abingdon

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the land proposed at the new reservoir site south of Abingdon by Thames Water is in each category of agricultural land classification.

Richard Benyon: Thames Water has produced a map giving this information for the current public inquiry into its draft water resources management plan. A copy of the map has been placed in the House Library.

Rivers: North East

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much has been spent on clearing debris from the River  (a) Tees,  (b) the Tyne and  (c) the Wear in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what responsibility the Environment Agency has for the clearance of debris from the River Tees; which other  (a) parts of her Department and  (b) bodies sponsored by her Department have responsibility for debris clearance from rivers; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The following table shows the total cost to the Environment Agency for debris removal within the river catchments of the Tyne, Wear and Tees. This includes the cost of this activity on the main river and its major tributaries.
	The costs indicated are associated with routine maintenance activities and do not include emergency response costs, such as emergency debris removal from trash screens and culverts.
	Under the Water Resources Act 1991, the Environment Agency has the power, in connection with main rivers, to cleanse, repair or otherwise maintain any existing watercourse or drainage work.
	The Environment Agency exercises this permissive power where it deems it necessary to remove debris from a main river for the purpose of alleviating the risk of flooding. The River Tees is classified as a main river and therefore falls within the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency.
	DEFRA sponsors British Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority, the three main navigation bodies which manage two-thirds of navigable inland waterways in England and Wales. These bodies maintain the waterways and are responsible for keeping them clear for navigation purposes.
	
		
			  River catchment summary for debris removal 
			  £ 
			  River catchment  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  5 year total 
			 Tyne 29,931.10 30,233.43 30,538.82 31,321.87 31,961.09 153,986.30 
			 Tees 29,804.86 30,105.92 30,410.02 31,189.76 31,826.29 153,336.85 
			 Wear 36,691.85 37,062.48 37,436.84 38,396.76 39,180.37 188,768.30 
			 Total 96,427.81 97,401.82 98,385.68 100,908.39 102,967.75 496,091.45

Task Force on Farming Regulations

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Task Force on Farming Regulations to publish its terms of reference; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The terms of reference for the Task Force on Farming Regulation were published on 9 July and can be found at:
	http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/files/2010/07/090709-farmreview-tor.pdf

Thames Water: Water Supply

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was lost through leakage within the Thames Water supply area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: Total leakage reported from the Thames Water supply area for the period 2008-09 was 700 million litres per day. This represents a rate of 195.3 litres per property per day, or 22.2 cubic metres per kilometre of mains pipe per day.

Waste Management

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reason is for the time taken to publish the terms of reference for her Department's waste review.

Richard Benyon: The waste policy review is a cross-departmental review, and the terms are subject to discussions between Government Departments. We anticipate that the terms will be published very shortly.

Waste: Renewable Energy

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on amending the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to recognise the concept of end of waste fuel.

Richard Benyon: Consultation will begin shortly on amendments to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These amendments would remove the distinction between fuels which, although manufactured from waste, are deemed by the competent authority (the Environment Agency) to have ceased to be waste before combustion, and "virgin" fuels not derived from waste.

Wildlife: Crime

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential contribution of the proposed border police force to the  (a) enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference agreements on trade in wildlife and  (b) reducing smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife.

Richard Benyon: Home Office Ministers, who lead on this, are developing a model in consultation with other departments, including DEFRA, which will deliver the coalition agreement commitment.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission holds information on the number of local authorities which hold Plain English Campaign awards for their electoral registration forms.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not hold this information. The format of the annual canvass form for electoral registration is currently prescribed in legislation.
	However, the Commission does provide guidance to electoral registration officers that plain English should be used when designing those forms not prescribed in legislation, including rolling registration forms.
	The Commission further informs me that it sets performance standards for electoral registration officers in Great Britain. These include a standard about accessibility and communication of information which aims to ensure that electoral registration officers effectively communicate electoral registration information to all electors.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the merits of informing hon. Members of the under-performance of electoral administration officers in local authorities in their constituencies.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it believes it is very important for hon. Members to be informed about the performance of electoral administration officers. When each annual assessment of performance for electoral registration officers and returning officers is published, the Commission writes to hon. Members directing them to information on its website where they can review the individual performance of every authority in Great Britain.
	The first set of published electoral registration officer performance data was placed in the House of Commons Library in May 2009, and since then all sets of data have been published on the Commission's website alongside information about the performance of electoral registration officers and returning officers.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission provides to electoral registration officers on carrying out their duties.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it issues guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on their statutory duties, which is available to download from its website:
	www.electoralcommission.org.uk
	The commission further informs me that it publishes performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain and works with those who have fallen below the standards to improve their performance. The commission also provides a range of resources for Electoral Registration Officers to assist them in planning and conducting voter registration activities.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what eligibility criteria apply to those seeking employment as electoral registration staff; and what mechanisms are in place for the training of such staff.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that the appointment of electoral registration officers in Great Britain is the responsibility of local authorities. In Northern Ireland the Chief Electoral Officer is the electoral registration officer for each constituency, and is responsible for appointing staff to assist him in his statutory duties. There are no eligibility criteria set out in law.
	The Commission further informs me that it has issued guidance to electoral registration officers that all staff involved in registration should be fully trained in the relevant aspects of the registration process. The Commission also publishes performance standards for electoral registration officers in Great Britain, including a performance standard on training which aims to ensure that they have provided appropriate training for staff to deliver the rolling registration and annual canvass processes.

Electorate: Ethnic Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the proportion of UK citizens from  (a) white,  (b) Bangladeshi,  (c) Pakistani,  (d) African and  (e) Afro Caribbean ethnic backgrounds who are eligible to vote.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that with a small number of exceptions, such as those serving a sentence in prison or convicted of an electoral offence, all UK citizens over the age of 18 living in the UK are eligible to vote.
	The Commission further informs me that the most recent national estimates for registration levels across England and Wales were published in its 2005 report, 'Understanding Electoral Registration', which was based on data from 2000. The report included the following estimates of non-registration.
	
		
			  Group  Percentage non-registered 
			 White 6 
			 Bangladeshi (1)6 
			 Pakistani 8 
			 Black African 37 
			 Black Caribbean 9 
			 (1) Small base size.

Members: Correspondence

Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Chair of the Electoral Commission will publish in unredacted form a copy of her letter of 26 May 2010 to the Secretary of State for Wales.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has placed a copy of the letter in the House of Commons Library.

National Assembly for Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will publish its advice to the Wales Office on the form of the question to be put on the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

Gary Streeter: The commission informs me that it will make public its views in response to the consultation by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State for Wales is also required to lay before Parliament a report stating any views that Electoral Commission has expressed on the intelligibility of the referendum question. A copy of the report must also be sent to the First Minister for laying before the National Assembly for Wales.

National Assembly for Wales: Referendums

Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Electoral Commission will begin its consultation on the content of the question for the referendum extending the powers of the National Assembly for Wales; and for how long this consultation is expected to last.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it was consulted by the Secretary of State for Wales on the wording of the proposed referendum question on 24 June 2010.
	The Commission began its assessment of the question on 24 June, when it wrote to interested groups to invite their views on the question.
	The Commission's assessment process will take around 10 weeks to complete.

National Assembly for Wales: Referendums

Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whom the Electoral Commission plans to consult on the content of the question to be put in the referendum relating to the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it wrote on 24 June to interested groups-including political parties in Wales and potential campaigners-to invite their views on the proposed referendum question.
	The Commission is also carrying out research with the public in Wales, and seeking advice on the wording of the proposed question from experts on accessibility and plain language.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the level of air passenger duty in respect of journeys to  (a) the Caribbean and  (b) the US.

Justine Greening: The existing air passenger duty rates, and scheduled 1 November 2010 increases, were set and legislated for by the previous Government.
	The Budget announced that the Government will explore changes to the aviation tax system, including switching from a per-passenger to a per-plane duty, which could encourage fuller planes. Major changes will be subject to consultation.

Banks: Taxation

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on  (a) banks and  (b) the banking sector of the measures proposed in the June 2010 Budget in respect of (i) the banking levy, (ii) changes to corporation tax, (iii) the rise in the rate of value added tax and (iv) other relevant measures.

David Gauke: The cost to the Exchequer from the reduction in the main rate of corporation tax for financial sector companies is £0.1 billion in 2011-12, £0.2 billion in 2012-13, £0.3 billion in 2013-14 and £0.4 billion in 2014-15. There is a negligible impact in 2010-11. The financial sector covers companies classified as 'Banking and Finance', 'Insurance and Pension funds' and 'Auxiliary Financial Services'.
	The yield from the bank levy is estimated to be £1.15 billion in 2011-12, £2.32 billion in 2012-13, £2.5 billion in 2013-14 and £2.4 billion in 2014-15.
	A robust estimate of the impact of the rise in the standard rate of VAT on the financial services sector is not available. Such estimates are subject to wide margins of error in terms of behavioural responses.
	The key assumptions applied in all major policy costings announced in Budget 2010 are set out in the following document:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf

Child Benefit: Armed Forces

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the families of service personnel who are in receipt of child benefit of the measures in the June 2010 Budget.

Justine Greening: holding answer 19 July 2010
	The families of service personnel will receive child benefit if they meet the relevant conditions. As announced at Budget, the Government will freeze child benefit for three years to help fund significant above indexation increases in the child tax credit. The child tax credit will increase by £150 above indexation in 2011-12 and by £60 above indexation in 2012-13. As a result of this, the Budget will have no measurable negative impact on child poverty over the next two years.

Child Tax Credit

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Dundee East constituency will be affected by changes to the child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit.

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Moray constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit.

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Angus constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credits due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Perth and North Perthshire constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 June 2010,  Official Report, column 461W.
	Information on the average change in child tax credit within each constituency is available only at disproportionate cost.

Child Trust Fund and Saving Gateway

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a race equality impact assessment has been carried out on  (a) the discontinuation of the Child Trust Fund and  (b) the decision not to extend the Savings Gateway.

Mark Hoban: The Government announced on 24 May that they will reduce and then stop Government payments to Child Trust Funds. The Government also announced at the Budget that the Saving Gateway will not be introduced. Both measures will help to reduce the budget deficit.
	Assessments of the race and other impacts of both measures will be published once primary legislation is brought forward to implement them.

Consumer Price Index

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Bank of England on proposals to include housing costs in the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation.

Justine Greening: The Chancellor meets the Governor of the Bank of England regularly to discuss a range of policy and operational issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Departmental Accountancy

Derek Twigg: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 715W, on departmental accountancy, what the monetary value was of each of the projects listed.

Justine Greening: The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided within the disproportionate cost threshold.

Departmental Lighting

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997.

Justine Greening: The information requested is as follows:
	 HM Treasury
	A full PFI refurbishment of the Treasury's building was completed in 2002. The cost of any light bulbs since that date have been included in the annual unitary payment made to the PFI provider and is not separately recorded. As a result of the introduction of a new accounting system in 2002-03, provision of information prior to that date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 Debt Management Office and the Asset Protection Agency
	Spending on light bulbs is not separately identifiable within their accounting systems and cannot be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.
	 The Royal Mint Advisory Committee
	The Royal Mint Advisory Committee has not incurred any spending on light bulbs.

Departmental Manpower

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of officials in the Office for Budget Responsibility were previously employed by his Department.

Justine Greening: The interim Office for Budget Responsibility has an eight-person secretariat of economists and public finance experts. The members of the secretariat are HM Treasury employees, redeployed from within the Department.

Departmental Marketing

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his  (a) Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997.

Justine Greening: Neither the Treasury nor its agencies or non-departmental public body have any record of spending on logos since 2002-03. Information prior to that date is not available due to the introduction of a new accounting system at that time.

EC Budget

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last reviewed the mechanisms for provision by the Government of matched funding for EU funding committed to programmes in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The emergency Budget set the overall path for the public finances to 2015-16. Departmental allocations will be set at the Spending Review, after which we will be in a position to make spending decisions including for match funding for EU Structural Funds. The Spending Review will be published on 20 October and will cover the four-year period from April 2011 to March 2015.

Employment Tribunals Service: Legal Costs

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely costs to departments in the next 12 months of defending cases in employment tribunals arising from the discussions of terms and conditions of contracts of employment through procedures other than those recognised for that purpose by management and trades unions.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally. The funding and management of Employment Tribunal claims is a matter for individual Departments.

EU Budget

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the draft EU budget for 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The Government are very concerned by the proposed increase of 5.8%, or €7 billion, in payment appropriations in the European Commission's draft EU budget for 2011. This level of increase is seriously out of step with the tough decisions being taken on fiscal consolidation by EU member state governments. The Government have repeatedly called for the EU budget in 2011 to be kept at cash levels equivalent to 2010, and will continue to work hard towards this goal.

Fraud: Alcoholic Drinks

Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to co-ordinate Government policy on the level of alcohol fraud and its relationship to the overall level of serious organised crime.

Justine Greening: HMRC published latest estimates of the level of spirits fraud in "Measuring Tax Gaps 2009" which is available in the House of Commons Library and is available at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.htm.
	Policy on tackling serious organised crime is coordinated across law enforcement agencies through the Organised Crime Partnership Board, which considers individual threats such as alcohol duty fraud in relation to the overall level of criminality.

Government Departments: MITIE

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government departments hold contracts with Management Incentive Through Investment Equity (MITIE) Group plc; what the annual cost has been of each Government contract with MITIE Group plc in each year since 1990; what the length of each contract was; and which Department held each contract.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on MITIE's contracts with central Government for each year since 1990 are not available centrally. From 1 January 2011, the Government will publish details of all new contracts with their suppliers.

Mortgages: Income Support

Simon Hart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the proposed reduction in the level of income support mortgage interest on  (a) the number of home repossessions and  (b) the level of homelessness.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
	We will continue to work closely with lenders and debt advice agencies to ensure repossession is only ever a last resort. The Council of Mortgage Lenders has told the Department that it expects lenders to continue to exercise forbearance where it is fair to do so for the borrower, and the borrower has a chance of paying off any arrears in the future. The Council of Mortgage Lenders thinks that where arrears levels increase for some borrowers as a result of the change in the standard interest rate this does not translate into an immediate possession risk.
	The Department does not capture information on reasons for ending a benefit claim, including support for mortgage interest, so does not capture the number of claimants who no longer receive support for mortgage interest payments because their property has been repossessed.
	The Department is in the process of developing a model to estimate the impact of changes to support for mortgage interest on the number of repossessions. However any estimates will always be limited since detailed case-by-case information, such as arrears at the start of a claim, is not collected by the Department.
	The Department does not hold data to estimate of the level of homelessness as a result of this change.

Office for Budget Responsibility: Public Appointments

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the Treasury Select Committee plays a role in the appointment of the new chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Justine Greening: The Chancellor intends to provide in legislation for the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) to have the power of veto over the appointment of the Chair of the Office of Budget Responsibility. Before the legislation is passed, the Chancellor proposes that the TSC conduct a pre-appointment hearing of the proposed candidate and has committed to not appointing a candidate judged unsuitable by the TSC.

Pensions: Index Linking

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the level of tax revenue of adopting the consumer price index as the basis for indexation of pensions.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 19 July 2010
	No estimates are available on the tax revenue effects of adopting the consumer price index as a basis for indexation of pensions.

Public Expenditure

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 658W, on public expenditure: Wales, what savings are being sought from each of the other devolved Administrations.

Danny Alexander: The savings from the Scottish Executive amount to £372.0 million, and from the Northern Ireland Executive £141.1 million.
	The devolved Administrations are able to defer their share of the £6.2 billion cuts to 2011-12 if they wish.

Public Expenditure

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010,  Official Report, column 541W, on public expenditure: Wales, if he will publish table 9.2 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, July 2010 in a form including figures relating to end year flexibility and reserve claims for Wales and Northern Ireland.

Danny Alexander: The country and regional analysis tables in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses have been prepared consistent with plans as at Winter Supplementary Estimates, as explained in the PESA publication, and there are no plans to revise the figures until PESA 2011.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 658W, on public expenditure: Wales, for what reasons a Barnett consequential was initially applied to Wales before savings relating to the Olympics were confirmed.

Danny Alexander: At the time of the 26 May announcement, the savings in respect of the Olympics programme had not been confirmed. The Barnett formula was therefore initially applied to all the DCMS savings, rather than the DCMS savings excluding the Olympics savings, which was done once the Olympics savings were confirmed.

Public Sector: Wales

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research to assess the effect on Wales of public sector job losses in the next five years.

Danny Alexander: Spending plans will be published in the autumn. In devolved areas of spending in Wales it will be for the Welsh Assembly Government to make their own decisions on how it will allocate its block budget.

Radio Frequencies

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made on  (a) the revenue from the 800 MHz spectrum auctions and  (b) the replacement cost for programme making and special events equipment that currently operates in the 800 MHz band.

Danny Alexander: It is not commercially sensible for the Government to make public their expectations of the outcome of a competitive auction process.
	Representatives of programme making and special events users estimate that the cost of replacing equipment that is currently licensed for use in the 600MHz and 800MHz spectrum bands to be £73 million.

Regional Planning and Development: Tees Valley

James Wharton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to designate the Tees Valley as an accelerated development zone.

Danny Alexander: June's emergency Budget announced that the Government will publish a White Paper later in the summer setting out plans for a new approach to sub-national growth. Accelerated development zones will be considered alongside other proposals as part of this process. Treasury officials are working with representatives from local authorities within the Tees Valley area as they develop proposals to form a local enterprise partnership and consider suitable funding mechanisms to support economic growth. The Government cannot take decisions in relation to individual accelerated development zone project proposals until they have adopted a position on the wider policy proposal.

Saving Gateway

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what statistical research on the effectiveness of the Savings Gateway Scheme he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such item of evidence.;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Saving Gateway scheme in increasing the level of saving.

Mark Hoban: The Government announced at the Budget that, to help reduce the deficit, the Saving Gateway would not be introduced nationally.
	The Saving Gateway has previously been piloted twice. Both pilots were independently evaluated, and reports of these evaluations have been published. Follow up research on the second pilot has also been carried out, and has also been published. These documents can all be found at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/saving_gateway.htm

Taxation: Bingo

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons gross profits tax on bingo clubs is set at 20 per cent.

Justine Greening: The rate of bingo duty was reduced from 22 per cent. to 20 per cent. at the March 2010 Budget.
	All taxes, including gambling taxes, are kept under review.

Taxation: Bingo

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons gross profits tax on high street bookmakers and UK licensed online bingo websites is set at 15 per cent.

Justine Greening: The existing rates of general betting duty and remote gaming duty were set by the previous Government. The June 2010 Budget left all rates unchanged.
	All taxes, including gambling taxes, are kept under review.

Taxation: Bookmakers

David Lammy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue accruing to the Exchequer from tax on the bookmaking industry in each year since 2000.

Justine Greening: Companies in the bookmaking industry are liable to various tax regimes, mainly to betting duty, corporation tax and VAT. From these, only betting duty receipts relate directly to the betting industry. They are published and are available at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullbett
	The yearly receipts from the betting duties since 2000 have been as follows:
	
		
			  Calendar year  General and pool betting duties receipts 
			 2000 520,134 
			 2001 500,443 
			 2002 309,661 
			 2003 373,112 
			 2004 449,596 
			 2005 459,214 
			 2006 379,767 
			 2007 418,459 
			 2008 412,098 
			 2009 353,347 
		
	
	VAT and corporation tax are not broken down sufficiently to provide information relating to the bookmaking sector explicitly.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2010,  Official Report, column 340W, on taxation: carbon emissions, whether an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken as part of the comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The spending review will include an assessment of the environmental impact of spending review decisions.

Terrorism: Finance

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 15 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 36-7WS, on the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Bill, if he will publish details on the public consultation exercise that took place in advance of the publication of the Bill;
	(2)  what steps he intends to take to ensure that state benefits awarded to spouses will not be used for terrorist purposes.

Mark Hoban: The public consultation exercise on draft terrorist asset freezing legislation opened on 18 March 2010 and concluded on 18 June 2010.
	Copies of the consultation and the Government's response can be found in the Library and on HM Treasury's website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_terrorist _assetfreezing_bill.htm
	The Government are committed to ensuring that persons subject to an asset freeze are not able to access funds for terrorist purposes. It is a criminal offence for a spouse, or any other person, to provide funds to someone subject to an asset freeze without a licence from the Treasury. The Treasury has written to spouses reminding them of the restrictions.
	The Government investigate any potential breach of an asset freeze, and are committed to robust enforcement in any case where breaches are detected. These controls will ensure that asset freezing remains effective in preventing terrorist finance.

VAT: Churches

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme beyond March 2011.

John Penrose: I have been asked to reply 
	as this is a heritage issue which falls under my remit.
	The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has played a significant role in supporting repairs to places of worship and I am aware that a decision regarding the scheme's future would be appreciated by all involved. However, this decision can only be taken as part of the wider discussions about Government spending priorities in the next spending round.
	The Government will hold a full spending review reporting this autumn, following a fully consultative process involving all tiers of government and the private sector.

VAT: Helmets

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to zero-rate motorcycle crash helmet replacement visors for value added tax.

David Gauke: Motorcycle crash helmets are zero-rated for VAT. However, the zero rate does not extend to visors or any other components or accessories supplied separately.
	The agreements with our EU partners under which we are allowed to maintain our existing zero rates preclude us from extending their scope, or introducing new ones.

CABINET OFFICE

British-Irish Council

Mark Durkan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Minister has lead responsibility for the British-Irish Council.

Francis Maude: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has the lead responsibility within the UK Government for the British-Irish Council.

Census

Andrew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what consultation his Department has undertaken on the future of the Census.

Francis Maude: I have not undertaken any consultation on the future of the census. The development of alternatives to the census is the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics. They are taking this work forward through the Beyond 2011 project and will lead any future consultation.

Charity Commission: Public Consultation

Amber Rudd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what target time the Charity Commission sets for consideration of the outcome of a public consultation;
	(2)  whether the Charity Commission has taken a decision on its public consultation on the Hastings and St Leonard's Foreshore Charitable Trust which closed on 11 January 2010; when the decision will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. I have asked the commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 22 July 2010:
	.
	The Commission has discretion, and in some cases is legally bound, to publicise its intention to make certain schemes and orders under the Charities Act 1993 (as amended by the Charities Act 2006). Representations received in response to public notice of draft schemes and orders are considered under the Commission's published Decision Review procedure. The Commission has made a commitment to complete all decision reviews of scheme and order representations within three months of the end of the period of notice, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
	I hope this is helpful.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 22 July 2010:
	.
	The Commission has conducted a formal review of our original proposed decision following the receipt of representations from members of the public regarding a draft scheme. Representatives of the Commission met with the trustees' representative and representatives of the Hastings Borough Council and the Commission has pursued questions through correspondence. The Commission has given its full consideration to the trustees' request to return the trusteeship back to the Council and to all the representations received. The Commission has taken its formal decision and is in the final stage of preparing it for publication. We expect to publish this within the next two weeks.
	I hope this is helpful.

Civil Servants: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the work of civil servants based in Liverpool to public services in  (a) that city and  (b) the UK.

Francis Maude: holding answer 19 July 2010
	Civil servants deliver crucial services direct to the public across the UK. Civil servants in Liverpool, as in all regions, work in a wide range of areas that touch on everyone's day-to-day lives such as education, health, taxation and benefits.

Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will ensure that his review of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme promotes protection for compensation arrangements for lower-paid workers in the public sector.

Francis Maude: I wrote to Paul Noon, Chairman of the Council of Civil Service Unions on 6 July 2010 inviting the unions to begin talks on a future compensation scheme with my officials. One key area for discussion is to what extent the future scheme can provide proportionately better terms for the lower paid.

Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  when he expects to announce details of the protection to be afforded to low-paid civil servants under the revised Civil Service Compensation Scheme;
	(2)  what recent progress he has made in negotiations with civil service unions on changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

Francis Maude: I wrote to Paul Noon, chairman of the Council of Civil Service Unions on 6 July 2010 inviting the unions to begin talks on a future compensation scheme with my officials. One key area for discussion is to what extent the future scheme can provide proportionately better terms for the lower paid. I have since met the unions once and my officials have had further meetings with them.

Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay

Mary Creagh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants in each Department received as a redundancy settlement equivalent to or greater than six years salary in each of the last three years.

Francis Maude: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 21 July 2010,  Official Report, column 375W.

Civil Servants: Retirement

David Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 19-20W, on senior civil servants: pensions, how many staff paid a lump sum on leaving the Civil Service are now employed  (a) directly as consultants and  (b) as non-executive directors in Government Departments and non-departmental government bodies; and what the posts are of each.

Francis Maude: This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Billing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of payments made by his Department to  (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and  (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available.

Francis Maude: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The information is available only at disproportionate costs.
	 (b) The Cabinet Office is fully committed to the Prompt Payment Code and aims to pay all compliant invoices as soon as possible. However, the agreed contractual payment terms are normally for payment within 30 days of receipt of a compliant invoice.
	The percentage of compliant invoices from all suppliers which were paid within 10 and 30 days of receipt is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  2010  Within 10 days  Within 30 days 
			 April 91.7 99.6 
			 May 97.3 99.8 
			 June 97.6 99.7

Departmental Billing

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many payments to suppliers were made by  (a) his Department,  (b) its agency and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) within 30 days, (ii) over 30 days, (iii) over 60 days and (iv) over 90 days from the date of invoice in the last 12 months.

Francis Maude: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The number of compliant invoice payments made to suppliers by the Department for financial year 2009-10 are as follows:
	
		
			  Period  Number of payments 
			 (i) Within 30 days 21,796 
			 (ii) Over 30 days 168 
			 (iii) Over 60 days 31 
			 (iv) Over 90 days 4 
		
	
	 (b) The number of payments made to suppliers by the Cabinet Office's agency for financial year 2009-10 are as follows:
	
		
			  Period  Number of payments 
			 (i) Within 30 days 33,899 
			 (ii) Over 30 days 914 
			 (iii) Over 60 days 278 
			 (iv) Over 90 days 205 
		
	
	 (c) The number of compliant invoice payments made to suppliers by the Cabinet Office's non-departmental public bodies for financial year 2009-10 are as follows:
	
		
			  Period  Number of payments 
			 (i) Within 30 days 1,572 
			 (ii) Over 30 days 53 
			 (iii) Over 60 days 4 
			 (iv) Over 90 days 6

Departmental Official Hospitality

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in  (a) May and  (b) June 2010.

Francis Maude: Details of expenditure in 2010-11 will only be available when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2011 summer recess.

Electoral Register

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were registered to vote in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London borough of Bexley,  (c) Greater London,  (d) England,  (e) Scotland,  (f) Wales and  (g) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many people were registered to vote in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London, (d) England, (e) Scotland, (f) Wales and (g) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available (9586).
	The attached table shows the number of people registered to vote in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, the London Borough of Bexley, Greater London, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in local government and parliamentary elections. The figures provided are from 1 December 2005 to 1 December 2009, which are the latest available.
	
		
			  Number of people registered to vote in local government and parliamentary elections England 
			   2005  2006  2007( 3) 
			   Local Government Electors  Parliamentary Electors( 1)  Local Government Electors  Parliamentary Electors( 2)  Local Government Electors  Parliamentary Electors( 2) 
			 England 37,655,524 37,151,991 38,223,259 37,588,775 38,594,720 37,817,466 
			
			 Greater London 5,302,465 5,055,033 5,394,405 5,103,642 5,483,584 5,135,276 
			 Bexley 171,226 169,760 172,667 170,775 173,979 171,646 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 64,832 64,445 65,319 64,823 65,828 65,221 
			
			 Wales 2,247,130 2,236,808 2,256,120 2,241,479 2,273,586 2,252,880 
			
			 Scotland 3,884,464 3,861,207 3,902,706 3,872,901 3,926,262 3,887,571 
			
			 Northern Ireland 1,156,991 1,153,409 1,075,078 1,070,265 1,125,935 1,20,343 
		
	
	
		
			   2008( 3,2)  2009( 3) 
			   Local Government Electors  Parliamentary Electors  Local Government Electors  Parliamentary Electors( 4) 
			 England 38,795,341 37,912,549 39,086,135 38,129,082 
			  
			 Greater London 5,537,622 5,145,575 5,604,025 5,186,985 
			 Bexley 172,086 169,504 173,748 170,905 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 65,249 64,562 65,600 64,791 
			  
			 Wales 2,279,779 2,261,769 2,280,240 2,261,269 
			  
			 Scotland 3,930,244 3,885,148 3,919,219 3,869,700 
			  
			 Northern Ireland 1,142,513 1,134,983 1,170,296 1,160,757 
			 (1 )Figures for Scotland are based on the boundaries that came into effect on 10 February 2005. (2) Figures for Wales are based on the boundaries that were in place prior to the National Assembly for Wales elections in May 2007. (3) Some local authorities in England and Wales were unable to provide data, therefore previous years' data were used. (4) Figures for England and Wales are based on the boundaries that came into place at the general election in May 2010.  Source: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

Electoral Register

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London borough of Bexley,  (c) Greater London and  (d) England who are registered to vote and are not eligible to vote in general elections.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate has been made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London and (d) England who are registered to vote and are not eligible to vote in general elections (9587).
	The table shows the number of nationals of other EU states (excluding British, Irish, Cypriot and Maltese nationals) in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, the London Borough of Bexley, Greater London and England who are registered to vote in local and European elections as at 1 December 2009. These are the latest figures available. European citizens are not eligible to vote in parliamentary or general elections. In this context, it is assumed other EU states mean those other than Britain, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta. Cypriots and Maltese citizens are eligible to vote in local, European and general elections due to their Commonwealth status.
	
		
			  Members of other EU member states registered to vote, 2009( 1) 
			  Area  Number 
			 England 964,376 
			 Greater London 419,359 
			 Bexley 2,886 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 823 
			 (1) Figures are based on the constituencies that came into effect at the general election in May 2010.  Source: Office for National Statistics.

Electoral Register

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London borough of Bexley,  (c) Greater London and  (d) England who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London and (d) England who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections (9588).
	ONS does not hold data on non-EU nationals who are registered to vote.

Electoral Register

Graham Brady: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of citizens of  (a) Commonwealth countries and  (b) the Republic of Ireland on the electoral register in the UK.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate he has made of the number of citizens of (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) the Republic of Ireland on the electoral register. (11153)
	ONS docs not hold specific data on the number of Commonwealth citizens or Republic of Ireland citizens registered to vote.

Electoral Register: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in  (a) Enfield North constituency,  (b) the London borough of Enfield and  (c) Greater London who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield, and (c) Greater London who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections (9957).
	ONS does not hold data on non-EU nationals who are registered to vote.

Electoral Register: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in  (a) Enfield North constituency,  (b) the London borough of Enfield and  (c) Greater London who are registered to vote and not eligible to vote in general elections.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate has been made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) Greater London who are registered to vote and are not eligible to vote in general elections (9958).
	The table shows the number of nationals of other EU states (excluding British, Irish, Cypriot and Maltese nationals) in Enfield North constituency, the London Borough of Enfield and Greater London who are registered to vote in local and European elections as at 1 December 2009. These are the latest figures available. European citizens are not eligible to vote in parliamentary or general elections. In this context it is assumed other EU states mean those other than Britain, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta. Cypriots and Maltese citizens are eligible to vote in local, European and general elections due to their Commonwealth status.
	
		
			  Members of other EU member states registered to vote 
			  Area  2009( 1) 
			 Greater London 419,359 
			 Enfield 11,634 
			 Enfield North 3,253 
			 (1) Figures are based on the constituencies that came into effect at the general election in May 2010.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Government Departments: Carbon Emissions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his Department's responsibilities are for the implementation of the Government's commitment to a 10% year-on-year reduction in the level of carbon dioxide emissions from the central government estate in the next 12 months.

Francis Maude: The Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement (CESP) within the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has recently moved from Treasury to join the Efficiency Reform Group (ERG) part of the Cabinet Office following a machinery of government change. The CESP within ERG is responsible for setting departmental allocation of the pan-government 10% reduction in emissions as well as; tracking, reporting and monitoring the in-year delivery of this reduction commitment across Government.
	In terms of carbon reduction, the Cabinet Office's responsibilities in the next 12 months are to make a 10% reduction and a further 1% contingency reduction in its estate based carbon emissions.

Government Departments: Construction

Anne McGuire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 671W, on Office of Government Commerce common minimum standards for construction, if he will publish the Office of Government Commerce initial review into Common Minimum Standards.

Francis Maude: The initial review of the Common Minimum Standards referred to in the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 671W, relates to work undertaken by the Construction Category team of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to determine the work necessary to update the CMS. This informal assessment exercise led to the plan to fully update the existing CMS document later this year (2010-11).
	I should clarify that the review of the content of CMS has yet to begin, so there is no further documentation to publish at this stage, however, a revised CMS will be published following the completion of the necessary revisions.

Life Expectancy: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the average life expectancy for  (a) men and  (b) women in each ward in the London borough of Bexley.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 16 July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what recent estimate has been made of the average life expectancy for (a) men and (b) women in each ward in the London Borough of Bexley. (9585)
	ONS does not routinely calculate life expectancies for individual local authority wards. However, period life expectancy figures for 1999-2003 based on 2001 Census Standard Table wards in England and Wales were published as experimental statistics in June 2006. Experimental statistics-which are in a testing or consultation phase and are not fully developed-should be treated with caution. Life expectancies for wards can be based on very small numbers of deaths and small populations. They may therefore be subject to large variations even when aggregated over five years, as shown by the width of the '95% confidence interval' in the tables. More information about these statistics can be found here:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=14466
	The table attached provides life expectancy figures at birth for all wards in the London borough of Bexley for (a) males and (b) females, for the five year period 1999-2003, based on these experimental statistics.
	
		
			  Table 1: Life expectancy at birth for males, by ward in the London borough of Bexley, 1999-2003( 1,2) 
			  Ward  Life expectancy at birth (years)  95% confidence interval( 3)  Communal establishment indicator( 4) 
			 Barnehurst 78 (76-79) 0 
			 Belvedere 78 (76-79) 0 
			 Blackfen and Lamorbey 79 (77-80) 0 
			 Blendon and Penhill 79 (78-81) 0 
			 Brampton 79 (77-80) 0 
			 Christchurch 77 (75-78) 3 
			 Colyers 74 (73-76) 2 
			 Cray Meadows 77 (76-79) 1 
			 Crayford 77 (75-79) 0 
			 Danson Park 78 (76-80) 1 
			 East Wickham 78 (77-80) 1 
			 Erith 76 (74-77) 0 
			 Falconwood and Welling 78 (77-80) 0 
			 Lesnes Abbey 77 (75-79) 2 
			 Longlands 78 (76-79) 5 
			 North End 73 (71-75) 0 
			 Northumberland Heath 78 (76-79) 0 
			 Sidcup 75 (73-77) 4 
			 St Mary's 79 (77-80) 2 
			 St Michael's 78 (77-80) 0 
			 Thamesmead East 75 (73-77) 3 
			 (1) Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Five year averages, based on deaths registered in each year, and experimental ward population estimates based on the 2001 Census. The ward names and boundaries used are 2001 Census Standard Table wards. (3) Confidence intervals (CIs) are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures. (4) The presence of medical and care communal establishments, such as nursing homes and hospices, can artificially depress the average life expectancy of the ward in which they are located. To aid interpretation of the figures, this indicator shows the proportion of the population of each ward, aged 65 and over, who were resident in such establishments in 2001. For this purpose, all wards in England and Wales (not only the wards in these boroughs) were divided into six groups which are numbered from 0 to 5: '0' means that none of the over-65 population lived in medical and care communal establishments; '1' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the lowest fifth of all wards; '5' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the highest fifth of all wards. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Life expectancy at birth for females, by ward in the London borough of Bexley, 1999-2003( 1,2) 
			  Ward  Life expectancy at birth (years)  95% confidence interval( 3)  Communal establishment indicator( 4) 
			 Barnehurst 83 (81-84) 0 
			 Belvedere 80 (79-82) 0 
			 Blackfen and Lamorbey 83 (81-84) 0 
			 Blendon and Penhill 82 (81-84) 0 
			 Brampton 84 (83-85) 0 
			 Christchurch 80 (78-81) 3 
			 Colyers 80 (78-81) 2 
			 Cray Meadows 81 (79-83) 1 
			 Crayford 83 (81-85) 0 
			 Danson Park 81 (80-83) 2 
			 East Wickham 81 (80-83) 2 
			 Erith 80 (78-82) 2 
			 Falconwood and Welling 82 (80-83) 0 
			 Lesnes Abbey 82 (81-83) 2 
			 Longlands 81 (80-83) 4 
			 North End 79 (77-81) 0 
			 Northumberland Heath 81 (79-83) 0 
			 Sidcup 80 (78-81) 5 
			 St Mary's 83 (81-84) 2 
			 St Michael's 83 (81-84) 0 
			 Thamesmead East 79 (78-81) 4 
			 (1) Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Five year averages, based on deaths registered in each year, and experimental ward population estimates based on the 2001 Census. The ward names and boundaries used are 2001 Census Standard Table wards. (3) Confidence intervals (CIs) are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures. (4) The presence of medical and care communal establishments, such as nursing homes and hospices, can artificially depress the average life expectancy of the ward in which they are located. To aid interpretation of the figures, this indicator shows the proportion of the population of each ward, aged 65 and over, who were resident in such establishments in 2001. For this purpose, all wards in England and Wales (not only the wards in these boroughs) were divided into six groups which are numbered from 0 to 5: '0' means that none of the over-65 population lived in medical and care communal establishments; '1' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the lowest fifth of all wards; '5' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the highest fifth of all wards.

Lone Parents: Hornchurch

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Hornchurch and Upminster constituency.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Hornchurch and Upminster. (9880)
	The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families which include at least one child aged under 16.
	The latest available figures are for 2008 and are shown in the table below. These are based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundaries. Hornchurch constituency, as constituted in 2008, consisted of 8 electoral wards, while Upminster constituency consisted of 7 electoral wards. However the 2010 parliamentary constituency 'Hornchurch and Upminster' consists of 8 wards drawn from both former constituencies. The breakdown of the data available is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether the newly constituted parliamentary constituency contains the same estimated number of lone parents as the two 2008 constituencies.
	
		
			  Geographical area  Number of lone parent families-wi th at least one child under 16 (T housand) 
			 Hornchurch constituency (2008) 2 
			 Upminster constituency (2008) 2 
			 Hornchurch and Upminster constituency (current) n/a 
			 n/a = Not available  Source: APS January to December 2008

Lone Parents: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 16 July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency. (9686)
	The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families which include at least one child aged under 16.
	The latest available figure is for 2008 and is shown in the table below. This is based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundary. Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, as constituted in 2008, consisted of 14 electoral wards, eight fewer than the current constituency. The breakdown of the data available is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether the newly constituted parliamentary constituency contains the same estimated number of lone parents as the 2008 constituency.
	
		
			  Geographical area  Number of lone parent families with at least one child under 16 ( T housand)( 1) 
			 Liverpool, Wavertree constituency (2008) 4 
			 (1) As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty and are therefore presented rounded to the nearest thousand.  Source: APS January to December 2008

Migration: Bedfordshire

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of the change to the level of the population of Bedfordshire  (a) directly and  (b) indirectly attributable to migration in each year since 1990.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate his Department has made of the change to the level of the population of Bedfordshire (a) directly and (b) indirectly attributable to migration in each year since 1990 (9727)
	The table shows the volume of population change in Bedfordshire directly attributable to migration in each year since mid-1991. Figures are not available below national level prior to 1991.
	ONS does not have the necessary information to provide an estimate of the volume of population change indirectly attributable to migration.
	
		
			  Population change due to net migration and other changes, Bedfordshire, mid-1991 to mid-2009 
			   Net migration and other changes 
			 1991-92 500 
			 1992-93 -1,600 
			 1993-94 -600 
			 1994-95 200 
			 1995-96 1,300 
			 1996-97 1,400 
			 1997-98 900 
			 1998-99 4,100 
			 1999-2000 2,500 
			 2000-01 2,600 
			 2001-02 3,700 
			 2002-03 3,200 
			 2003-04 2,400 
			 2004-05 1,800 
			 2005-06 1,600 
			 2006-07 1,500 
			 2007-08 2,000 
			 2008-09 200 
			  Note: 'Other changes' includes changes in the population due to changes in the number of armed forces (both foreign and home) and their dependents resident in the UK.  Source: Office for National Statistics.

New Businesses: Bedfordshire

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses were started in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and  (b) the county of Bedfordshire in 2009-10.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 16 July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many new businesses were started in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and (b) the county of Bedfordshire in 2009-10.
	Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table below contains the latest statistics available on enterprise births in 2008 for Mid Bedfordshire constituency and the county of Bedfordshire.
	
		
			  Count of enterprise birth in 2008 for the county of Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire constituency 
			   Number 
			 Bedfordshire county 1,950 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 520

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 801W, on non-departmental public bodies, when he expects to announce the number of non-departmental public bodies to be abolished.

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made on the abolition of non-departmental public bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The Government are committed to reducing the number of public bodies to increase accountability and reduce costs. To this end, I am working with Departments to assess the public bodies that fall within their areas of responsibility against three tests: do they perform a technical function; do they require political impartiality; or do they act independently to establish facts. We expect to publish the outcome of this assessment by the autumn.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 801W, on non-departmental public bodies, whether he plans to issue guidance to those non-departmental public bodies that are to be abolished on expenditure by them on lobbying activities.

Francis Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones) earlier.

Non-departmental Public Bodies: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much in cash reserves is held by each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies; and how much each such body spent in the latest year for which information is available.

Francis Maude: The total cash held by Capacity Builders (UK) Ltd as at 31 March 2010 amounted to £1,920,768.
	The total cash held by the Commission for the Compact Ltd as at 31 March 2010 amounted to £293,165.
	Details of 2009-10 spend for both executive non-departmental public bodies can be found in their individual Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10.

Population

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent advice he has received on the  (a) accuracy of,  (b) cost of and  (c) practical arrangements for using methods other than the national census to measure the UK's population.

Francis Maude: The UK Statistics Authority is responsible for carrying out the census in England and Wales. The board of the authority has expressed the view that the 2011 census should be the last conduction on the traditional basis. Through the 'Beyond 2011' project the authority has been considering alternative ways of obtaining information that has been traditionally gathered via a census.
	The current advice from the ONS is clear. Census alternatives are not sufficiently developed to provide now the information required to meet essential UK and EU requirements. It is therefore important that the census goes ahead in England and Wales on 27 March 2011. ONS must do all it can to ensure it is a success.

Population

James Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the most recent projections made by the Office for National Statistics are of population densities in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) Scotland,  (d) Wales and  (e) Northern Ireland for (i) the earliest date for which such projections have been made, (ii) 2031, (iii) 2056 and (iv) the most distant date for which such projections have been made; what estimate has been made of the population density of each such area in 2010; and if he will rank the UK in terms of the 2010 population density of each EU member state, giving the population density for each member state.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, asking what the most recent projections made by the Office for National Statistics are of population densities in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland for (i) the earliest date for which such projections have been made, (ii) 2031, (iii) 2056 and (iv) the most distant date for which such projections have been made; what estimate has been made of the population density of each such area in 2010; and if he will rank the UK in terms of the 2010 population density of each KU member state, giving the population density for each member state. (10595)
	Projected population densities can be calculated for any year from the published projected total population for that year and the relevant land area. The estimated population density for mid-2009 and projected population densities derived from the 2008 population base for the years 2010, 2031, 2056 and 2108 are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Estimated and projected population density of UK and constituent countries for selected years, 2009 to 2108 
			  Persons/sq km 
			   2009  2010  2031  2056  2108 
			 United Kingdom 255 257 293 323 381 
			 England 398 401 461 516 622 
			 Wales 145 145 160 170 186 
			 Scotland 67 67 71 71 71 
			 Northern Ireland 132 133 148 153 147 
			  Note: Population densities for 2009 are derived from mid-year population estimates, whilst those for 2010 onwards are derived from the 2008-based national population projections. All densities have been calculated assuming constant land area for the UK and its constituent countries into the future.  Source: Office for National Statistics. General Register Office for Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency 
		
	
	National population projections are produced for up to 100 years ahead, but only published for up to 75 years ahead, and are available from the Office for National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlink-8519
	However, long-term projections should be treated with great caution. Population projections become increasingly uncertain the further they are carried forward, particularly for smaller geographic areas.
	Eurostat publishes estimates of population densities for all EU countries up to 2007 (see table tps00003 under main demographic indicators at:
	http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/population/data/main_tables

Public Bodies: Lobbying

Andrew Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will issue guidance to Government Departments on the retention and use of lobbying companies by publicly-funded bodies for the provision of lobbying and support services to campaign for increased funding.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments", states that it is an improper use of public funds for non-departmental public bodies to employ PR or other consultants to lobby Parliament or Government Departments in order to obtain higher funding. This guidance is available at
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/public-bodies.aspx
	and copies are available in the Library of the House.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Research

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the proposals for future research and development of low carbon energy technologies in the Committee on Climate Change's report on Building a low-carbon economy.

Gregory Barker: The Committee on Climate Change's report: "Building a Low Carbon Economy-the UK's Innovation Challenge", was commissioned under the previous Government. We value the Committee's work and will consider the findings carefully alongside the spending review process.

Departmental Billing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold any central information on the time taken by contractors (tier one suppliers) to pay their sub-contractors (tier two suppliers). However, we are working closely with tier one suppliers to ensure that tier two suppliers receive payment promptly by:
	reviewing payment performance as part of the standard contract management process;
	ensuring tier one suppliers include in the relevant contract a provision which requires the tier one supplier to pay the tier two supplier within 30 days; and
	enabling tier two suppliers to report any concerns they feel have not been adequately addressed direct to the Department or via the Office of Government Commerce's supplier feedback process.
	We remain committed to paying invoices within five working days and continue to work closely with our suppliers to ensure that the benefits are felt by all in the supply chain.

Departmental Contracts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the contracts between his Department and private sector companies which will be cancelled under his Department's planned spending reductions.

Gregory Barker: The full range of contracts with the Department of Energy and Climate Change are currently under review. At the present time there is no estimate available as to the value of contracts that may be cancelled or re-negotiated.

Departmental Correspondence

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what instructions have been issued by the private office of each Minister in his Department on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence.

Gregory Barker: The private offices maintain guidance on the departmental intranet which provides general advice for officials working with Ministers.

Departmental ICT

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since its inception. [R]

Gregory Barker: DECC only became a legal entity on 5 March 2009, and therefore in 2008-09 the core ICT services for DECC were still supplied and funded by DEFRA and BIS. DECC's total annual ICT expenditure for 2008-09 therefore was only £205,000. The 2008-09 ICT expenditure for non-departmental public bodies was £10.14 million.
	DECC's total annual ICT expenditure for 2009-10 was £8.44 million. This expenditure includes the cost of setting up and rolling out a new ICT system for the Department. The 2009-10 ICT expenditure for non-departmental public bodies was £12.42 million. The non-departmental public bodies covered by this figure are; the Coal Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Civil Nuclear Police Authority and Committee on Climate Change.

Departmental Speeches

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which  (a) (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers in his Department and  (b) other individuals are employed to write speeches for each Minister in his Department.

Gregory Barker: One civil servant is employed to write speeches for Ministers. Civil servants from across the Department are also involved as part of their duties in drafting ministerial speeches. Special advisers will also input on occasion.

Departmental Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 2010,  Official Report, column 344W, to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson).
	In addition, the Government publish on a quarterly basis, the expenses incurred by the most senior officials which includes use of Government car service and other travel expenses.

Energy: Housing

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with which representatives of industrial sectors his Department has had discussions on the energy efficiency measures to be included in the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: Discussions have taken place with a number of leading organisations in the retail, installation, energy and finance sectors to discuss the broad scope of the Green Deal. These discussions will continue as we develop the detailed policy, including those measures that can be included as part of the Green Deal offer.

Energy: Housing

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the installation of thermostats in homes to homes obtaining insulation and other energy efficiency measures under proposed pay-as-you-save schemes;
	(2)  what requirement for the installation of thermostats he intends to make in homes participating in proposed pay-as-you-save insulation schemes.

Gregory Barker: Installations such as heating controls and thermostats, are important for helping households to control their overall energy use. The Green Deal will allow people to install certain energy efficiency measures in their homes, which can be paid for through their energy bill savings. We will be setting out the measures that qualify for the Green Deal in secondary legislation once the forthcoming Energy Bill has received Assent.

Energy: Prices

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  whether penalties apply to energy suppliers for breaches of standards of conduct in respect of energy tariffs;
	(2)  if he will discuss with Ofgem the transparency of the process whereby wholesale energy prices are used to calculate domestic energy prices;
	(3)  if he will take steps to increase the level of transparency in energy pricing in the  (a) wholesale and  (b) retail energy markets;
	(4)  if his Department will undertake research on the link between wholesale and retail energy prices;
	(5)  what criteria his Department uses to assess the extent to which the wholesale cost of energy reflects the cost of its generation;
	(6)  what mechanism his Department uses to estimate the link between  (a) wholesale and  (b) domestic energy prices;
	(7)  by what mechanism his Department assesses whether energy suppliers are adhering to the standards of conduct in respect of energy tariffs.

Charles Hendry: Following its Energy Market Supply Probe, Ofgem introduced new standards of conduct which provide a guide to customers about the level of service they can expect from an energy supplier.
	These standards are not enforceable against energy suppliers but are supported by obligations in licences and under consumer protection law, and form part of the wider context for possible Ofgem enforcement action.
	Ofgem will take the standards into account when it decides whether to investigate potential licence breaches by suppliers and, where relevant, as part of Ofgem consideration of consumer detriment for the purposes of suspected breaches of licence conditions and proposals for licence modifications leading to further regulatory rules.
	Wholesale energy costs account for around 60% of a domestic customer's energy bill and are a major consideration in suppliers' retail pricing decisions. The relationship between wholesale costs and retail prices is complex, hence the importance of transparency. In the 2008 pre-Budget report, Ofgem were asked to produce a quarterly update on the link between wholesale and retail energy prices precisely in order to increase levels of pricing transparency. The latest report showed the major suppliers have cut their prices in response to falling wholesale prices and that margins were lower than in the previous quarter. Ofgem has said that if suppliers stopped competing on price or domestic prices did not respond to a sustained fall in wholesale prices, it would look closely at the market.
	Competition is vital to keeping bills as low as possible. Ofgem continues working to reduce barriers to entering the retail market and will publish a report on wholesale market liquidity in summer 2010.

Energy: Prices

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria are used to determine whether consumers are being charged fairly for domestic energy.

Charles Hendry: Ofgem, the independent sector regulator is responsible for ensuring that consumers are treated fairly by their energy suppliers.
	Following its probe into retail energy markets in 2008 Ofgem took steps to prohibit unfair and excessive price differences between different groups of consumers (e.g. unjustified premiums for pre payment meters). Ofgem have recently reported that price differentials are now largely in line with differences in costs, but will continue to monitor this.

Environment Protection: Low Incomes

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on those on low incomes of measures to tackle climate change.

Gregory Barker: The Analytical Annex of the Low Carbon Transition Plan (LCTP) from July 2009 included the last published estimates of the distributional implications of climate change and energy policies on energy bills. As noted in the LCTP lower income households face a lower absolute increase in their energy bills however, they typically spend a greater share of their income on energy bills. By 2020, energy bills as a percentage of income are estimated to increase from an average of 12.7% to 14.2% for households in the bottom income decile. For more details see the Analytical Annex of the LCTP available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/Default.aspx? term=low%20carbon%20transition%20plan&tags=&urn= &fromDate=&toDate=&alpha=
	The Government recognise the need to help more of the most vulnerable to keep their homes warm at an affordable cost. A significant number of fuel poor and vulnerable households have already received support to upgrade the thermal performance of their dwelling through policies such as Warm Front and CERT. In bringing forward our proposals for a Green Deal, we will ensure that we will help more of the most vulnerable households on the lowest incomes.

Environmental Projects

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will commission a review of the procurement of power purchase agreements in order to examine the ability of small environmental projects in development to tender for Government contracts.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply.
	Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) offer a new and innovative method of purchasing electricity for the public sector. They provide opportunities to generate cost savings and facilitate new energy generation, supporting smaller renewable energy generators.
	Initial investigations into the opportunities offered by PPAs have already been undertaken, with future work to be taken forward by the Efficiency and Reform Group as part of this Government's commitment to centralise the procurement of commodity goods and services across Government.

Farmers: Carbon Trust

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether farmers continue to be eligible for interest-free loans from the Carbon Trust.

Gregory Barker: Farmers in England are eligible to apply for Carbon Trust administered interest free energy efficiency loans of up to £20,000.

Fuel Poverty

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what targets his Department has set for reducing the level of fuel poverty; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Warm Front scheme to his Department's objectives.

Gregory Barker: We will continue to look at ways in which we can make further progress towards the fuel poverty goals and remain committed to doing all that is reasonably practicable to eradicate fuel poverty in ail households in England by 2016.
	Government are totally committed to helping those households that are in fuel poverty. We recognise the need to help more of the most vulnerable to keep their homes warm at an affordable cost.
	Warm Front is key to tackling fuel poverty in private sector households and has assisted over 2.1 million vulnerable households, across England, since its inception in June 2000.

Fuel Poverty

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps are being taken by his Department to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016.

Gregory Barker: Government recently announced the extension of a more ambitious and targeted Carbon Emissions Reduction Target to December 2012, paving the way for the Green Deal. This extension will require a significant and urgent increase in home energy insulation. Through the extension we are requiring a greater focus on helping low income households than ever before. This will result in the investment of over £400 million in the most vulnerable GB homes.
	Approximately 175,000 households are expected to be provided measures which can provide a long term solution to fuel poverty. Many more will receive measures which will protect them from falling into fuel poverty.
	The Warm Front Scheme is key to tackling fuel poverty and has assisted over 2.1 million vulnerable households, across England, since its inception in June 2000.
	We have the powers to introduce mandated social price support through the Energy Act 2010 and, subject to the outcome of the spending review and consultation, we intend to introduce the first scheme in 2011.

Fuel Poverty

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of households in  (a) Bedford constituency,  (b) the East of England and  (c) England and Wales which are in fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: In 2006, the most recent year for which sub-regional figures are available, there were around 3,000 (8%) fuel poor households in the Bedford constituency.
	In 2007, there were 253,000 (11%) fuel poor households in the East of England and 2.8 million (13%) fuel poor households in England. The latest figure from the Welsh Assembly Government shows a projected figure of around 243,000 (20%) households in fuel poverty in 2006.

National Concessionary Fuel Office

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has for the future  (a) administration and  (b) funding of the National Concessionary Fuel Office.

Charles Hendry: The Department has no current plans to change the existing arrangements of the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS).

Oil: Scotland

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with the chief executive of Cairn Energy since July 2009 on its plans to drill for oil off the coast of Scotland; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings.

Charles Hendry: None. Cairn Energy hold no UK petroleum licences.

Renewable Energy

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK bioliquids sector of the Ofgem ruling of March 2009 on eligibility for the Renewables Obligation of fuel from bioliquids produced with methods involving methanol from natural gas; and what representations his Department has received on the matter.

Charles Hendry: Following Ofgem's March 2009 ruling the Department has received representations from a number of companies regarding bioliquids produced with methods involving methanol from natural gas. We are currently in the process of amending the renewables obligation order to incorporate the sustainability criteria for bioliquids in compliance with the renewable energy directive. This will include consulting on allowing bioliquids used for electricity generation where they are derived from fossil fuel, such as biodiesel, which meet the sustainability criteria to be included in the renewables obligation.

Renewable Energy

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what consideration he has given to the merits of amending the Renewables Obligation to allow partial certification of renewable energy produced using small amounts of material derived from fossil fuel;
	(2)  what consideration he has made of the merits of amending the provisions of the Renewables Obligation in respect of bioliquids produced from waste oils which contain traces of methanol or other recycle fossil fuels to reflect the comparable provisions in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.

Charles Hendry: We are currently in the process of amending the renewables obligation order to incorporate the sustainability criteria for bioliquids in compliance with the renewable energy directive. This will include consulting on allowing bioliquids used for electricity generation where they are derived from fossil fuel, such as biodiesel, which meet the sustainability criteria to be included in the renewables obligation.

Renewable Energy

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish information on the energy generated from renewable resources in 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Statistics on renewable electricity, heat and biofuels during 2009 were contained in a special feature article within the June 2010 edition of Energy Trends, which is available on the Department's website:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/trends/trends.aspx
	and in the Libraries of the House. More detailed information will be published on 29 July 2010 within Chapter 7 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, which will also be available both on the website and in the Libraries of the House.

Renewable Energy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding his Department has allocated to assist environmental businesses operating in the photovoltaic market.

Charles Hendry: The main grant programmes for electrical microgeneration, including the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP) have now ceased and have been replaced by the feed-in tariff (FIT's), where those who produce their own electricity will receive payments for the electricity they produce and any electricity that they feed back into the 'grid'. Since the scheme has only been running three months it is too early to identify trends in take-up.

Renewable Energy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage individual investment in photovoltaic solar panel installations.

Charles Hendry: Since April this year the main vehicle for supporting investment in solar photovoltaics is the Feed-in Tariff, which is available for a range of small scale low carbon technologies, including PV. The Government are also consulting on a new Microgeneration Strategy, which will aim to tackle non-financial barriers to development of the microgeneration market, including solar photovoltaics.

Renewable Energy

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the merits of generation of electricity by solar panels on domestic homes.

Charles Hendry: The Government recognise that solar panels have an important part to play in helping to reduce carbon emissions in homes, and increase the deployment of renewables in the UK.
	Solar panels are supported through the Feed In Tariffs (FITs) scheme, which was introduced on 1 April 2010. This is a financial support scheme for eligible low carbon electricity technologies aimed at small-scale installations (maximum capacity of 5 Megawatts). The merits of providing support to solar PV panels and other technologies were assessed in the Impact Assessment published at the time the scheme was launched. Further information is available at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/Renewable%20Electricity%20Financial%20Incentives/1_20100204103559_e_@@_FITsImpactAssessmentaccompanying GovernmentResponse.pdf

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to assess the merits of including electricity from  (a) anaerobic digestion,  (b) hydropower and  (c) geothermal power in his Department's feed-in tariff scheme.

Gregory Barker: FITs for small-scale low-carbon electricity are intended primarily to support the widespread deployment of proven technologies now and up to 2020, rather than to support development of unproven technologies. Since the scheme's launch on 1 April, tariffs have only been offered to those technologies which we consider can be deployed at scale in the short term. These include anaerobic digestion and hydropower but do not currently include geothermal power.
	The FITs scheme will be subject to periodic review which will include consideration of the eligibility of different technologies. We are continually collecting data which, as we learn more, will be fed into the review process.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of the feed-in tariff scheme for photo voltaic solar panels; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of that scheme to his Department's objective on  (a) reducing reliance on carbon-based fuels and  (b) encouraging microgeneration.

Charles Hendry: The feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, which was introduced on 1 April 2010, sets tariffs for new photovoltaic (PV) out to 2020, with payments to generators for 25 years. From 2012 the tariffs will reduce automatically each year for new installations.
	We will undertake periodic reviews of FITs, which will provide opportunities to assess how the scheme is working in practice and to make changes if these are necessary.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on changing the tax treatment of revenue from feed-in tariffs.

Charles Hendry: The tax treatment of income from feed-in tariffs is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Officials of the Department are in regular contact with officials of HM Treasury on this issue.

Renewable Energy: Regional Development Agencies

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department provided to regional development agencies for the purpose of developing renewable energies in each of the last three years.

Gregory Barker: Regional development agencies (RDAs) are funded via a single budget made up of contributions from funding Departments. DECC's contribution to the budget in 2009-10 was £45.824 million. Prior to this contributions were made by DECC's predecessor Departments. RDAs set their own priorities so none of DECC's funding was provided specifically for developing renewable energies.

Renewable Heat Incentive

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of renewable energy generation he has informed the EU will be provided by the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive under the terms of Article 4 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009.

Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of renewable heat in the UK; this is a crucial part of ensuring we meet our renewables targets, cutting carbon and ensuring energy security. The UK National Renewable Energy Action Plan contained projections for renewable energy based on the lead scenario for meeting the 2020 target. If markets and technologies develop along the lines of this scenario then we would expect the share of heat generation from renewable sources to increase to around 12% by 2020. The Renewable Heat Incentive proposals, which were published for consultation under the previous administration earlier this year, were aimed at achieving this increase.
	We are still looking at the renewable heat incentive (RHI) proposals, including the impact of the costs, particularly given the financial constraints we must work within and the potential impact that funding options could have on vulnerable people. We want to provide certainty and clarity as quickly as possible, but must make sure that we make the right decision. We will look to make an announcement on the future of the proposed scheme as soon as possible.

Renewable Heat Incentive

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to announce his decision on the Renewable Heat Incentive; and if he will make a statement.

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2010,  Official Report, column 78W, on renewable energy: feed-in tariffs, when he expects to make an announcement on the Renewable Heat Incentive; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 367-68W.

Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make an assessment of the likely effects on Wales of his Department's planned spending reductions.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 June 2010,  Official Report, column 496W. Since then, the Department has decided how savings will be made on its national Environmental Transformation Fund and Low Carbon Investment Funding. This will not result in the loss of programmes that were targeted specifically at Wales.

Wind Power

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to end the Renewables Obligation scheme for onshore wind.

Charles Hendry: We are committed to the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity-as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs. We will make any changes to the support mechanism for renewables in the context of the wider work on electricity market reform, and in a way that preserves investor confidence.

Windows: Energy

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has to increase the number of households installing energy efficient windows.

Gregory Barker: Issues relating to the glazing industry are a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. In some circumstances, glazing is an eligible measure under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and the Community Energy Saving Programme, which runs until the end of 2012. These are currently the principle schemes for delivering household energy efficiency in Great Britain.
	The Government are currently developing the Green Deal programme, which will allow people to install certain energy efficiency measures in their homes with no up-front costs, which can be paid for through their energy bill savings. We will be setting out the measures that qualify for the Green Deal in secondary legislation once the forthcoming Energy Bill has received Assent.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his plans are for future levels of funding for the Access to Work programme.

Chris Grayling: Access to Work provides financial help towards the extra costs faced by people with a disability in work, where this goes beyond what would be reasonable for an employer to meet. Access to Work supported 32,120 disabled people during 2008-09. Official Statistics for 2009-10 will be published on 27 July.
	The Government are reviewing current welfare to work programmes, including Access to Work, to ensure disabled people are given the right support to get a job and remain in employment. We are committed to ensuring disabled people are given the right support they need to get a job and remain in employment.
	The coalition agreement announced
	'We will reform Access to Work, so disabled people can apply for jobs with funding already secured for any adaptations and equipment they will need'
	We are developing plans for delivering this commitment and further details will be announced in due course.

Allied Steel and Wire: Pensions

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken in respect of the pensions of former employees of Allied Steel and Wire.

Steve Webb: Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) Cardiff qualified for the Financial Assistance Scheme on 24 October 2005 and ASW Sheerness qualified for the FAS on 26 October 2005.
	I met campaigners including Community, Unite, GMB and a member of the ASW scheme on 14 July to discuss the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Child Tax Credit: Aberdeenshire

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Banff and Buchan constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 June 2010,  Official Report, column 461W.
	Information on the average change in child tax credit within each constituency is available only at disproportionate cost.

Council Tax Benefits

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when his Department plans to rename council tax benefit as council tax rebate;
	(2)  what progress his Department has made towards renaming council tax benefit as council tax rebate.

Steve Webb: We cannot commit to a timetable for implementation until we have fully assessed the precise costs and impact of this change. We are engaging with local authorities and their IT suppliers in work to establish the particular delivery implications and associated costs for local authorities. Similar work is being carried out within Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service where there are major implications for IT systems which link to local authorities' systems and play a crucial role in supporting benefit claims.

Credit Unions

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the future funding of credit unions; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Existing arrangements for funding credit unions through the Department for Work and Pensions are due to end on 31 March 2011. No firm plans beyond that date have been agreed.

Departmental Buildings

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on office refurbishment in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation for the Department for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Refurbishment is one of the services provided but the cost of it cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge.
	Some refurbishments are not covered by the unitary charge and are funded separately as capital expenditure, which would include major projects, and the fit out of new buildings. Expenditure increased from 2002 when the Department embarked on a major programme funded by the Treasury to improve the services delivered to the public, including those provided by Jobcentre Plus, the Pension, Disability and Carers Service and Debt Management Services. Expenditure increased in 2009-10 because of the Department's response to the economic downturn. The Department and its predecessors' expenditure on these major refurbishment projects is set out in the following table. To separate the costs prior to 2008-09 could be achieved only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1997-98 52.4 
			 1998-99 14.6 
			 1999-2000 23.3 
			 2000-01 23.7 
			 2001-02 77.8 
			 2002-03 170.0 
			 2003-04 282.3 
			 2004-05 117.3 
			 2005-06 278.9 
			 2006-07 162.2 
			 2007-08 48.2 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Corporate  Pension, Disability and Carers Service  Jobcentre Plus  Total 
			 2008-09 14.6 0.7 7.3 22.6 
			 2009-10 5.7 1.8 49.4 56.9 
		
	
	Refurbishment costs for NDPBs not covered by the PFI contract are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission  Health and Safety Executive  Independent Living Fund  Pension Protection Fund  Personal Accounts Delivery Authority  The Pensions Advisory Service  The Pensions Regulator 
			 1997-98 - - - - - - - 
			 1998-99 - - - - - - - 
			 199-2000 - - - - - - - 
			 2000-01 - - - - - - - 
			 2001-02 - - - - - - - 
			 2002-03 - 5,263,000 - - - - - 
			 2003-04 - 1,636,000 - - - - - 
			 2004-05 - 2,627,000 - - - - - 
			 2005-06 - 1,261,000 - - - - 1,387,931 
			 2006-07 - 4,229,000 - - - - - 
			 2007-08 - 2,512,000 - - - - - 
			 2008-09 - 5,935,000 - - 246,000 - - 
			 2009-10 - 4,823,000 - - 34,000 - - 
		
	
	
		
			   Pensions Ombudsman  Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman  Disability Employment Advisory Committee  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board  Equality 2025  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council  Social Security Advisory Committee 
			 1997-98 - - - - - - - 
			 1998-99 - - - - - - - 
			 199-2000 - - - - - - - 
			 2000-01 - - - - - - - 
			 2001-02 - - - - - - - 
			 2002-03 - - - - - - - 
			 2003-04 - - - - - - - 
			 2004-05 - - - - - - - 
			 2005-06 - - - - - - - 
			 2006-07 - - - - - - - 
			 2007-08 - - - - - - - 
			 2008-09 - - - - - - - 
			 2009-10 - - - - - - - 
		
	
	NDPBs operate individual arrangements and the above figures are for NDPBs excluding the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF). I will let the hon. Member have information on refurbishment spend for PPF for the following: Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, Independent Living Fund, Pension Protection Fund, Personal Accounts Delivery Authority, The Pensions Advisory Service, The Pensions Regulator, Pensions Ombudsman, Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman, Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board, Disability Employment Advisory Committee, Equality 2025, Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and Social Security Advisory Committee as soon as possible.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on televisions in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: The Department's spend (including agencies) on televisions is provided in the following table. Cost information prior to 2006-07 and separating the data between the Department and its agencies could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Spend (£) 
			 2006-07 2,264 
			 2007-08 15,368 
			 2008-09 10,016 
			 2009-10 16,374 
		
	
	Spend on televisions by the Department's NDPBs is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Independent Living Fund  Personal Accounts Delivery Authority  The Pensions Advisory Service  The Pensions Regulator 
			 1997-98 - - - - 
			 1998-99 - - - - 
			 1999-00 - - - - 
			 2000-01 - - - - 
			 2001-02 - - - - 
			 2002-03 - - - - 
			 2003-04 - - - - 
			 2004-05 - - - - 
			 2005-06 - - - - 
			 2006-07 - - 700 - 
			 2007-08 - - - 10,344 
			 2008-09 - - - 3,035 
			 2009-10 992 306 - 8,267 
		
	
	Available information for the Pensions Protection Fund will be provided as soon as possible. NDPBs not listed have either not incurred any expenditure or the information is not available.

Departmental ICT

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: Table 1 summarises information and communication technology expenditure with external suppliers. Information prior to 2005-06 for the Department, its predecessors and agencies, and prior to 2002-03 for the Health and Safety Executive, can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  £ million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 DWP - - - 452 254 201 175 273 
			 JCP - - - 270 513 470 468 483 
			 PDCS - - - 178 214 185 188 170 
			 CSA(1) - - - 135 105 135 - - 
			 CMEC(2) - - - - - - 156 151 
			 Health and Safety Executive(3) 21 22 28 28 26 24 25 25 
			 (1) CSA ceased to operate in 2008-09. (2) CMEC began operations in 2008-09. (3) Reported expenditure for the Health and Safety Executive excludes telephony.  Abbreviations: DWP-Department for Work and Pensions JCP-Jobcentre Plus (Agency) PDCS-Pension, Disability and Carers Service (Agency) CSA-Child Support Agency (Agency) CMEC-Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (Crown Non Departmental Body)  Notes: 1. Figures for 2009-10 are provisional. 2. The 2009-10 accounts are based on International Financial Reporting Standards. Prior years were prepared on a UK GAAP basis. 
		
	
	Table 2 summarises Non Departmental Public Bodies information and communication technology expenditure with external suppliers. Information prior to 2005-06 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  £ million 
			  Body  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Independent Living Fund(1) 0.279 0.273 0.299 0.475 0.786 
			 Pension Protection Fund(2) - 1.061 1.312 2.644 3.533 
			 Personal Accounts Delivery Authority(3) - - - 0.114 1.027 
			 Remploy Ltd(4) 2.945 2.753 4.747 3.756 6.989 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service 0.066 0.209 0.418 0.356 0.486 
			 The Pensions Regulator 1.750 2.604 2.432 3.080 2.938 
			   
			 Pensions Ombudsman(5) - - 0.216 0.229 0.254 
			 Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman(5)  
			   
			 Disability Employment Advisory Committee(6) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Equality 2025(7) - 0 0.007 0 0 
			 Industrial Injuries Advisory Council 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee(8) 0 0 0 0.003 0 
			 (1) Source: Independent Living Fund. Figures for external IT costs include: IT Hardware purchase, IT Software Purchases, Hardware additions, Bespoke software additions, Commercial Software additions, IT Technical support, Software licensing, Software Services, Business Continuity, Information security, Website services and Equipment servicing. (2) 2008-09 includes £0.825 million capital expenditure 2009-10 includes £1.384 million capital expenditure. (3) Excludes telephone services and telephone equipment received for nil consideration (valued at £10,000). (4) Data at this level is only available on Remploy accounting systems for the last five years. 2009-10 figures include £2,082,948 ICT spending for FND1. Increases in 2004-05 and 2009-10 reflect IT capital expenditure to upgrade desktop systems and IT hardware including servers. (5) Both bodies are supported by the same organisation. (6) DEAC is not supplied with information and communication technology. (7) Data at this level is only available on Remploy accounting systems for the last five years. (8) The majority of the SSAC's I&CT is provided by the DWP. 
		
	
	The following bodies were sponsored by the Department and its predecessors during the period for which information is requested. These bodies have either been closed or replaced by a successor body as shown:
	Pensions Compensation Board was replaced by the Pension Protection Fund in April 2005;
	Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority ceased on 5 April 2005, its work is now done by The Pensions Regulator;
	The Appeals Service moved to the Department of Constitutional Affairs (now the Ministry of Justice) on 1 April 2006;
	Disability Rights Commissioner was subsumed into the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in September 2007;
	National Employment Panel ceased on 31 March 2008. Its functions have been incorporated into the UK Commission for Employment and Skills from 1 April 2008;
	Working Ventures UK closed down on 30 September 2009.

Departmental Internet

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on website design in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: Since 1997 the following has been spent on website design:
	
		
			   Website  Cost (£000) 
			 2008-09 and 2009-10 DWP corporate 118.5 
		
	
	The Department's corporate website was redesigned during 2008-09 and 2009-10 as part of a decision that customer-facing content should move to Directgov and employer-facing content to Business Link. The cost shown represents the external design cost for the redesigned website. The Department's own in-house digital media team also worked on the redesign but it is not possible to extract and quantify costs as most staff work across more than one role and website.
	
		
			   Website  Cost (£000) 
			 2007-08 ODI 98 
		
	
	During 2007-08 the Office for Disability Issues ran a project to redesign its website as part of improvement work using customer feedback and research. The cost shown represents the cost of external design work.
	Website design costs are not available for previous years for the Department or its predecessors. We are working with Cabinet Office to implement a standardised method for quantifying website costs across the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies in response to recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee. These costs will be available from April 2011 onwards.

Departmental Lighting

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Building maintenance is one of the services provided and the provision of light bulbs is included within this. The cost of light bulbs cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge.
	For those non-departmental public bodies not covered by the PFI contract, specific information on the spend on light bulbs is not available.

Departmental Marketing

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: Under the previous Administration, the Department and its agencies spent £2,970 plus VAT in 2009-10 on logo design. Further information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), the Employment Service (ES) and some parts of the Department for Education and Employment (DFEE) and no information is available before that time.
	All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Total (£) 
			 2001-02 155,000 
			 2002-03 259,997 
			 2003-04 135,567 
			 2004-05 91,259 
			 2005-06 133,979 
			 2006-07 196,892 
			 2007-08 50,267 
			 2008-09 116,652 
			 200-10(1) 24,544 
			 (1) Figures for 2009-10 are provisional.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Chris Grayling: The overall remuneration for civil servants working within the Department is published as an annex in the Resource Accounts. The Resource Accounts for 2009-10 are not due to be laid before Parliament until 26 July 2010. Until the report has been agreed the figures contained may still be subject to change therefore I am unable to provide validated figures at this time.
	A copy of the Resource Accounts will be placed in the Library on publication.

Departmental Security

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on security in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Security is one of the services provided but the cost of it cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge.
	In addition customer care officers are employed at many Jobcentre Plus offices and one element of their role is security related. The cost of the security element cannot be disaggregated from the overall cost.
	Security costs for NDPBs not covered by the PFI contract are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission  Health and Safety Executive  Independent Living Fund  Pension Protection Fund  Personal Accounts Delivery Authority  The Pensions Advisory Service  The Pensions Regulator 
			 1997-98 - - - - - - - 
			 1998-99 - - - - - - - 
			 1999-2000 - - - - - - - 
			 2000-01 - - - - - - - 
			 2001-02 - - - - - - - 
			 2002-03 - - - - - - - 
			 2003-04 - - - - - - - 
			 2004-05 - - - - - - - 
			 2005-06 - 604,590 - - - - - 
			 2006-07 - 963,403 - - - - - 
			 2007-08 - 1,187,156 - - - - 52,470 
			 2008-09 - 1,254,855 - - 103,000 - 57,691 
			 2009-10 - 1,039,842 - - 116,000 - 58,853 
		
	
	
		
			   Pensions Ombudsman  Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman  Disability Employment Advisory Committee  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board  Equality 2025  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council  Socia l  Security Advisory Committee 
			 1997-98 - - - - - - - 
			 1998-99 - - - - - - - 
			 1999-2000 - - - - - - - 
			 2000-01 - - - - - - - 
			 2001-02 - - - - - - - 
			 2002-03 - - - - - - - 
			 2003-04 - - - - - - - 
			 2004-05 - - - - - - - 
			 2005-06 - - - - - - - 
			 2006-07 - - - - - - - 
			 2007-08 - - - - - - - 
			 2008-09 - - - - - - - 
			 2009-10 - - - - - - - 
		
	
	In relation to security of data, the information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Stationery

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on stationery in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: The Department including the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission has spent the following on stationery (i.e. desk top items, computer consumables and cut sheet paper):
	May 2008 - March 2009 = £14,139,461
	April 2009 - March 2010 = £16,505,496
	April 2010 - June 2010 = £3,080,678
	Prior to May 2008 spend was through a variety of commercial contracts and details can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The following table details stationery spend for non departmental public bodies and arms length bodies associated with DWP:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Body  1997-2004  2004- 05  200 - 06  200 - 07  2007 - 08  2008 - 09  2009 - 10 
			 Health and Safety Executive - 458,885 377,359 302,746 291,668 334,920 292,820 
			 Independent Living Fund - - 32,120 36,863 46,401 52,407 58,310 
			 Personal Accounts Delivery Authority - - - - 4,000 49,000 84,000 
			 Remploy Ltd - 700,099 596,613 613,796 737,467 617,081 715,765 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service - 8,242 7,718 12,413 9,898 10,574 13,079 
			 The Pensions Regulator - - 279,609 142,062 134,477 126,371 152,382 
			 The Pensions Ombudsman / Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman - - - - - - - 
			 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board - - - - - - - 
			 Disability Employment Advisory Committee - - - - - - - 
			 Equality 2025 - - - 34 307 186 319 
			 Industrial Injuries Advisory Council - - - - - - - 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee - - - - 3,240 2,834 6,407 
		
	
	The following bodies were sponsored by the Department and its predecessors during the period for which information is requested. These bodies have either been closed or replaced by a successor body as shown:
	Pensions Compensation Board was replaced by the Pension Protection Fund in April 2005;
	Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority ceased on 5 April 2005, its work is now done by The Pensions Regulator;
	The Appeals Service moved to the Department of Constitutional Affairs (now the Ministry of Justice) on 1 April 2006;
	Disability Rights Commissioner was subsumed into the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in September 2007;
	National Employment Panel ceased on 31 March 2008. Its functions have been incorporated into the UK Commission for Employment and Skills from 1 April 2008;
	Working Ventures UK closed down on 30 September 2009.
	NDPBs operate individual arrangements and I will let the hon. Member have information in relation to spend on stationery for the Pension Protection Fund as soon as possible.

Departmental Training

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on employee awaydays in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies does not have a separate or identifiable account code in departmental finance records to distinguish expenditure on staff away days. Details of such expenditure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Spending on staff away days is incurred in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, which is based on the principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Training

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on employee training in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: Until 2006-07 the Department and its Agencies did not report training expenditure separately.
	Annual expenditure for subsequent years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 64.5 
			 2007-08 65.0 
			 2008-09 62.0 
			 2009-10 73.0 
		
	
	The figures shown include expenditure for the Department and its Agencies as follows:
	2006-07: DWP, Jobcentre Plus, Pension Service, Disability and Carers Service and Child Support Agency
	2007-08: DWP, Jobcentre Plus, Pension Service, Disability and Carers Service Child Support Agency
	2008-09: DWP, Jobcentre Plus, Pension Disability and Carers Service
	2009-10: DWP, Jobcentre Plus, Pension Disability and Carers Service
	No data is available for the Rent Service, the Health and Safety Executive, Directgov and the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. Increased expenditure in 2009-10 was largely due to the need to provide training to some 16,000 additional staff recruited by Jobcentre Plus to manage increased workloads caused by the economic downturn.

Departmental Travel

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies has spent on travel for employees in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has spent the following on business travel, inclusive of air, rail, ferry, hotels, conference venues, vehicles, car parking, taxis and coach travel invoices by various suppliers:
	
		
			   Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2005-06 40.6 
			 2006-07 56.2 
			 2007-08 49.8 
			 2008-09 63.5 
			 2009-10 67.1 
		
	
	Please note no figures are available prior to 2005-06, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The figures above exclude reimbursement of staff expense claims related to travel.
	Travel spend for non-departmental public bodies and arms length bodies are as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Body  1997-2004  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission - - - - - 7,500 4,000 
			 Health and Safety Executive - 6,877 7,532 7,027 6,040 7,096 7,594 
			 Independent Living Fund - - - - 15 28 50 
			 Personal Accounts Delivery Authority - - - - 18 378 332 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service - 15 28 35 27 36 26 
			 The Pensions Regulator - - 198 228 201 171 237 
			 Pensions Ombudsman - - - - 7 6 6 
			 Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman - - - - (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Disability Employment Advisory Committee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Indicates a brace. 
		
	
	The following bodies were sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and its predecessors during the period for which information is requested. These bodies have either been closed or replaced by a successor body shown as follows:
	Pensions Compensation Board was replaced by the Pension Protection Fund in April 2005;
	Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority ceased on 5 April 2005, its work is now done by the Pensions Regulator;
	The Appeals Service moved to the Department of Constitutional Affairs (now the Ministry of Justice) on 1 April 2006;
	Disability Rights Commissioner was subsumed into the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in September 2007;
	National Employment Panel ceased on 31 March 2008. Its functions have been incorporated into the UK Commission for Employment and Skills from 1 April 2008;
	Working Ventures UK closed down on 30 September 2009.
	I will let the hon. Member have information in relation to the Pensions Protection Fund as soon as possible.

Departmental Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period.

Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 21 June 2010,  Official Report, column 70W.
	DWP Ministers and the Permanent Secretary make use of the Government Car Service within the normal rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Department's rules on official travel. Other senior officials may use the Government Car Service from time to time for official travel in accordance with departmental rules. Details of other expenditure on official travel senior officials, is published on a quarterly basis.
	I used the Department's contracted taxi service, Addison Lee, for an official journey on 19 May when no Government car was available. The charge to the Department, including VAT, was £64.33. Information relating to June is not yet available.
	In addition I have a £10.00 Oyster card purchased for official journeys by public transport.

Departmental Utilities

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on (i) electricity, (ii) water, (iii) heating and (iv) telephone services in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives cost details of utilities and telephone services for the Department (including its agencies, and the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission), since its first full operational year in 2001-02, and for its predecessors.
	Utilities (electricity, water, heating) cost information for the former Department of Social Security and the former Employment Service for 1998-99 and previous years is no longer maintained centrally. Cost data for water prior to 2001-02, and telephone service information prior to 2005-06 are also unavailable.
	Telephony costs are for DWP and all its agencies and covers all telephony services, and advanced telephony, Contact Centre telephony, IP telephony, data services, equipment room management, cable management, video conferencing and mobile phones.
	
		
			  £000 
			   (i) Electricity  (ii)Water  (iii) Heating  (iv) Telephone services 
			 Gas  Oil  
			 1998-99 - - - - - 
			 1999-2000 12,679 - 3,170 439 - 
			 2000-01 10,875 - 3,663 555 - 
			 2001-02 12,658 1,476 3,323 416 - 
			 2002-03 13,869 1,404 4,764 418 - 
			 2003-04 15,076 1,333 4,932 410 - 
			 2004-05 17,343 1,266 6,614 545 - 
			 2005-06 20,868 1,204 8,192 564 210,000 
			 2006-07 24,409 1,243 7,853 413 236,000 
			 2007-08 22,576 1,286 6,299 484 213,000 
			 2008-09 27,631 1,255 8,374 472 210,000 
			 2009-10 21,431 1,282 6,330 362 199,000 
		
	
	The following table provides information for the Health and Safety Executive (including the Health and Safety laboratory) since the beginning of DWP's sponsorship in 2002-03.
	
		
			  £000 
			   (i) Electricity  (ii)Water  (iii) Heating  (iv) Telephone services 
			 2002-03 782 270 303 1,316 
			 2003-04 815 276 276 1,078 
			 2004-05 1,063 316 387 1,115 
			 2005-06 1,308 338 508 953 
			 2006-07 1,707 401 643 873 
			 2007-08 1,580 310 474 911 
			 2008-09 2,039 221 708 1,047 
			 2009-10 2,106 112 537 1,209 
		
	
	The following table provides information for The Pensions Regulator-information is only available for the past five years.
	
		
			  £000 
			   (i) Electricity  (ii)Water  (iii) Heating  (iv) Telephone services 
			 2005-06 65 11 18 112 
			 2006-07 131 28 29 117 
			 2007-08 131 2 2 93 
			 2008-09 146 13 15 87 
			 2009-10 157 23 5 92 
		
	
	The following table provides information on costs for utilities for PADA since 2007-08.
	
		
			  £000 
			   (i) Electricity  (ii) Water  (iii) Heating  (iv) Telephone services 
			 2007-08 9 1 2 6 
			 2008-09 109 12 25 76 
			 2009-10 118 20 37 117 
		
	
	The following table provides information on costs for telephone services attributable directly to the NDPBs listed. Costs for electricity, water and heating are included within the overall figures for DWP (as they are based as minor occupiers of main DWP buildings).
	
		
			  £ 
			   Equality 2025  Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman  The Pensions Advisory Service  Independent Living Fund 
			 2004-05 - - 31,326 - 
			 2005-06 - - 30,616 17,860 
			 2006-07 39 - 37,331 17,309 
			 2007-08 723 15,162 28,659 10,580 
			 2008-09 862 12,439 35,417 25,257 
			 2009-10 772 10,084 72,145 28,330 
		
	
	I will let the hon. Member have information on the utilities and telephony service costs for the Pensions Protection Fund as soon as possible.

Disability Living Allowance

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing his proposal to introduce a medical assessment for the disability living allowance;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of assessing eligibility for disability living allowance on the basis of a medical assessment; and what his most recent estimate is of the cost of the current form-based system.

Maria Miller: The emergency Budget made the commitment to reform disability living allowance to ensure it supports those people who are most in need and remains financially sustainable. As part of these reforms, we will introduce a more objective assessment from 2013-14, and will consider carefully how this could improve the existing process for customers and the impact on administrative costs.
	With reference to the cost of administering the current disability living allowance system, such information that is available is presented in the following.
	
		
			   2009-10 March YTD expenditure (£ million) 
			 Disability living allowance claims 142.1 
			 Disability living allowance-maintenance of existing claims 21.4 
			 Total disability living allowance 163.4 
			  Notes: 1. The table of costs for DLA includes the total costs for administering DLA new claims and maintenance of existing claims, including any share of the corporate DWP costs. 2. The costs include any further requests for medical evidence, including from GPs or from the contracted medical services provider. 3. Figures are rounded to one decimal point.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions-Activity Based Management System-PDCS Management Information Statistics

Disability Living Allowance: Fraud

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of  (a) fraud and  (b) incorrect payments relating to disability living allowance in each of the last 10 years.

Chris Grayling: Consistent figures for overpayments due to fraud and error on disability living allowance are only available from 2004-05.
	The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated overpayments due to fraud and error on disability living allowance: From 2004-05 to 2009-10 
			  £ million 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error 
			 2004-05 40 50 60 
			 2005-06 40 50 70 
			 2006-07 40 60 70 
			 2007-08 50 60 80 
			 2008-09 50 70 80 
			 2009-10(1) 60 70 90 
			 (1) Preliminary estimates.  Note: Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.  Source: National Statistics: Fraud and Error in the Benefit System (various publications)

Employers' Liability

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the response to the Government's consultation on the establishment of an employers' liability insurance bureau.

Chris Grayling: The public consultation closed on 5 May 2010. We are currently considering the replies we received and we will publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Employers' Liability

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to establish an employers' liability insurance bureau.

Chris Grayling: An employers' liability insurance bureau is one of the options set out in the DWP consultation document, 'Accessing Compensation-Supporting people who need to trace Employers' Liability Insurance'. We are currently considering all of the replies we received to the consultation, and we will publish our response in due course.

Employment Schemes

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to increase his Department's assistance for British citizens whose first language is not English to find employment.

Chris Grayling: For those seeking work, Jobcentre Plus can direct those where poor English language skills are a barrier to employment to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision through the Employability Skills Programme (ESP), where customers are referred to Further Education providers for further in-depth assessment and training if appropriate.
	As we move to implement the new Work Programme, the effectiveness of the different ESOL models employed by providers will offer valuable lessons and help to shape future ESOL provision.

Employment Schemes

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to assist people who wish to move from part-time to full-time employment.

Chris Grayling: The Government's objective is to encourage a dynamic and flexible labour market in which more people can find employment, whether full or part-time, that meets their particular needs and circumstances. Key to this will be the measures set out in the Budget to secure a sustained, private sector-led, recovery in the economy and employment, through tackling the deficit, improving competitiveness and supporting business by cutting regulation and taxes. The Government are also exploring ways to ensure that people on benefit keep more of their earnings when they move into work or increase the hours they work.
	In addition, the Next Step service (our new universal integrated adult careers service which starts from August) will offer advice to individuals on how to progress in their careers. This would include helping them overcome barriers to working full-time, such as accessing child care, or where their skills were a barrier to gaining full-time work, how they could get the necessary skills through training or development activities.

Employment Schemes

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to assist people who are on benefits back into employment;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to assist long-term unemployed people back into employment.

Chris Grayling: We have announced plans for radical reforms of the welfare to work system and the implementation of the Work Programme. The Work Programme will be an integrated package of support providing people with personalised back-to-work help based on need and not the benefit they claim. No final decisions have been taken on which customers will be supported by the Work Programme but we expect long-term unemployed people to be among those eligible.
	We are also looking to make radical changes to the benefit system to make it much simpler, and to make the financial gains from moving into work stronger and more transparent.
	We are determined to move quickly and are aiming to have the Work Programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011. Alongside the core Work Programme a series of individual support measures will be introduced to get Britain working, including Work Clubs and help with moving into self-employment.

Employment: Wales

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to place jobseekers in employment in  (a) Clwyd South and  (b) Wales.

Chris Grayling: The Government have announced their plans for radical reforms of the welfare to work system and the implementation of the Work Programme. The Work Programme will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help for people on out of work benefits, based on need rather than benefit claimed.
	Once implemented, the Work Programme will supersede much of the complicated raft of national programmes currently on offer and these will be phased out. The support currently provided by programmes such as Flexible New Deal will be folded into the Work Programme as soon as possible.
	The core Work Programme will be delivered by contractors drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors, as well as social enterprises. We will offer these providers stronger incentives to work with the harder to help, paying them out of the additional benefits they realise as a result of placing people into work.
	The scope and shape of the Work Programme, including details such as when customers move to the Work Programme, is still under discussion but we expect that the majority of benefit claimants will be able to access the Work Programme at some stage in their claim. We will make further announcements in due course.
	We are determined to move quickly and are aiming to have the Work Programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011. We will announce further details to the design and implementation as the Work Programme progresses.
	Alongside the core Work Programme, a series of individual support measures will be introduced to get Britain working such as:
	Work for Yourself, giving access to business mentors and start-up loans;
	Work Clubs, to give unemployed people a place to share skills and experiences;
	Service Academies, which will offer specialised pre-employment training and work placements; and
	Work Together, to encourage and facilitate volunteering.
	Further support is also being planned for young people, including work experience opportunities with small businesses and sole traders, more apprenticeships and more further education places.
	Until the Work Programme is implemented, the Government will ensure appropriate support is in place.

Employment: Young People

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to provide  (a) training and  (b) employment opportunities for young people unemployed for more than six months in the West Midlands.

Chris Grayling: The Government have announced plans for the radical reform of the welfare to work system, and for the introduction of the Work Programme. The Work Programme will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help for people who find themselves out of work, based on need and not benefit claimed. The final shape and scope of the Work Programme has not yet been decided, but we expect that many young people will receive support through it at some stage in their benefit claim.
	We aim to have the Work Programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011. Until the Work Programme is implemented, the Government will ensure support is in place.
	We are also planning further support for young people, including intensive work experience, more apprenticeships and more further education places.

Energy

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department expects to begin data-sharing with energy suppliers.

Steve Webb: The Energy Rebate Scheme will deliver a one off £80 rebate this year on electricity bills to eligible persons.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has carried out a data matching exercise to help the six major electricity suppliers identify which of their customers belong to the group of eligible people, so that they may receive a rebate on their electricity account.
	A person will be eligible for a rebate if, on 26 March 2010, they or their partner were aged 70 or over and receiving the guarantee credit element of pension credit (not the savings credit) and were responsible for paying the electricity bill where they live and were not on a social or discounted tariff from their electricity supplier.
	Electricity suppliers are currently adding the rebate to customers' accounts.

Funerals: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average monetary value of funeral payments made to applicants in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Dudley Borough has been since 2005.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 20 July 2010,  Official Report, column 275W.

Future Jobs Fund

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  on which date his Department's evaluation of the Future Jobs Fund was commissioned;
	(2)  how many officials of his Department are employed in the evaluation of the Future Jobs Fund; and what the budget for the evaluation is.

Chris Grayling: We are currently planning an evaluation strategy for Young Person's Guarantee. This is likely to include qualitative research and estimates of impact of the programme. The evaluation will be commissioned in due course.

Future Jobs Fund

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many bids his Department has received for assistance under the Future Jobs Fund since 24 May 2010.

Chris Grayling: The Department has received one bid since 24 May 2010.

Future Jobs Fund

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2010,  Official Report, column 161W, on the Future Jobs Fund, if he will take steps to collect information on the Future Jobs Fund at constituency level.

Chris Grayling: The constituency data have not been collected as they are not essential to the smooth running or evaluation of the Future Jobs Fund. As such this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. We are currently considering alternative data sources which may allow constituency level breakdowns subject to data quality and large enough volumes.

Future Jobs Fund

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have secured Future Jobs Fund employment in  (a) Perth and Kinross local authority area,  (b) Clackmannanshire and  (c) Ochil and South Perthshire.

Chris Grayling: This information is not available.

Future Jobs Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2010 to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West,  Official Report, column 278W, on the Future Jobs Fund, what representations he has received on his proposals for the Future Jobs Fund since the date of that Answer.

Chris Grayling: Since 14 June I have not received a significant number of representations to continue the Future Jobs Fund.

Future Jobs Fund: Scotland

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of dependants participants in the Future Jobs Fund in Scotland have; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The information is not available. No information is kept on the dependants of people who obtain jobs through funding from the Future Jobs Fund.

Housing Benefit

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of proposed changes to housing benefit on homelessness in Sunderland.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made an assessment of the likely effects of reductions in levels of housing benefit on the incidence of homelessness levels in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: We are working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the devolved administrations to assess the impacts of the proposed changes to housing benefit, including looking at ways to minimise any risk of adverse impacts on local authorities' homelessness prevention strategies.

Housing Benefit

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the extent of over-occupation in social sector housing in City of Durham constituency in households where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the extent of over-occupation in social sector housing in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The information is not available. The Department for Work and Pensions does not collect information on dwelling size for all housing benefit recipients.
	The English Housing Survey in 2008-09 showed that 258,000 (6.7%) of all social rented households and 164,000 (5.4%) of all private rented households in England were over-occupied as measured by the bedroom standard.
	The "bedroom standard" is essentially the difference between the number of bedrooms needed to avoid undesirable sharing (given the number and ages of household members and their relationships to each other) and the number of bedrooms actually available to the household.
	 Source:
	Figures on over-occupation are taken from 'Table 6: Overcrowding and under-occupation by tenure' from the English Housing Survey, 2008-09

Housing Benefit

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of housing benefit recipients in  (a) England and  (b) Doncaster receive a higher sum in benefit payments than the level of rent they pay; and what estimate he has made of the average level of excess weekly benefit received by such people in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at sub-national level.
	In August 2009 in Great Britain, among customers receiving housing benefit under the local housing allowance arrangements, 44% had an excess of £11 per week on average. This relates to excesses caused by a customer's contractual rent being lower than the appropriate local housing allowance rate.

Housing Benefit

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families are living in properties where housing benefit payments exceed  (a) £1,000 per week and  (b) £2,000 per week in (i) the London borough of Camden, (ii) the London borough of Brent, (iii) the Greater London area and (iv) the UK.

Steve Webb: At April 2010, for all families in receipt of housing benefit, living in properties in both the private and social rented sectors, our records show that:
	In the London borough of Camden, there were:
	Fewer than five customers in receipt of housing benefit over £1,000 per week; and no customers in receipt of housing benefit over £2,000 per week.
	In the London borough of Brent, there were:
	No customers in receipt of housing benefit over £1,000 per week; and no customers in receipt of housing benefit over £2,000 per week.
	In the Greater London area, there were:
	90 customers in receipt of housing benefit over £1,000 per week; and no customers in receipt of housing benefit over £2,000 per week.
	In the UK, there were:
	90 customers in receipt of housing benefit over £1,000 per week; and no customers in receipt of housing benefit over £2,000 per week.
	 Note:
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 recipients.
	 Source:
	Single Housing Benefit Extract.

Housing Benefit

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) public and  (b) private sector organisations were consulted on proposed reductions to housing benefit before those proposals were announced.

Steve Webb: The Department has not consulted on these specific changes although it has consulted on proposals to reform the housing benefit system to make it fairer, more affordable, and to improve work incentives. The consultation commenced on 15 December 2009 and concluded on 22 February 2010. 381 responses were received to the consultation.
	Of these respondents, 147 were public sector organisations (central and local government or parliamentary bodies) and 208 were from private rented sector organisations or individuals.

Housing Benefit

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Moray constituency received housing benefit overpayments between 2007-08 and 2009-10; and how much on average was required to be paid back.

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency received housing benefit overpayments between 2007-08 and 2009-10; and what the average overpayment was.

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Angus constituency received housing benefit overpayments between 2007-08 and 2009-10; and what the average overpayment was.

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Dundee East constituency received housing benefit overpayments between 2007-08 and 2009-10; and what the average overpayment was.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Perth and North Perthshire constituency received housing benefit overpayments between 2007-08 and 2009-10; and what the average overpayment was.

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Banff and Buchan constituency received housing benefit overpayments between 2007-08 and 2009-10; and what the average overpayment was.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.

Housing Benefit: Disability

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of his proposals for housing benefit reform on people with disabilities.

Steve Webb: We published an impact assessment for the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates on 23 July 2010.
	We are developing the detailed policy design of the other housing benefit changes announced in the Budget. We shall publish impact assessments to accompany the relevant legislation when introduced in Parliament and are investigating the scope for publishing sooner.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Hornchurch and Upminster constituency.

Steve Webb: The information is not available.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the extent of over occupation in social sector housing in Hornchurch and Upminster constituency where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The information is not available. The Department for Work and Pensions does not collect information on dwelling size for all housing benefit recipients.
	The English Housing Survey in 2008-09 showed that 258,000 (6.7%) of all social rented households and 164,000 (5.4%) of all private rented households in England were over-occupied as measured by the bedroom standard.
	The "bedroom standard" is essentially the difference between the number of bedrooms needed to avoid undesirable sharing (given the number and ages of household members and their relationships to each other) and the number of bedrooms actually available to the household.
	 Source:
	Figures on over-occupation are taken from Table 6: Overcrowding and under-occupation by tenure from the English Housing Survey, 2008-09.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Hornchurch and Upminster constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the impact of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect on new build in the social sector.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for West Lancashire, (Rosie Cooper), on 8 July,  Official Report, columns 435-437W.

Housing Benefit: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) pensioners,  (b) people of working age in work,  (c) unemployed people of working age,  (d) social sector tenants and  (e) private sector tenants resident in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency are in receipt of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
	The available information on Housing Benefit recipients is published at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hbctb_release_jul10.xls
	An exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the housing benefit data: this will include parliamentary constituencies. It is hoped this exercise will be completed by early 2011.

Housing Benefit: Worcestershire

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals resident in West Worcestershire and in receipt of housing benefits  (a) are on the housing waiting list for accommodation with more bedrooms than their current accommodation and  (b) occupy accommodation with more bedrooms than residents.

Steve Webb: Information on housing waiting lists and occupancy rates in West Worcestershire is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Incapacity Benefit: Scotland

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of claimants of  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) employment and support allowance in Scotland at the end of (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013.

Chris Grayling: The information is not available: DWP only forecasts claimant numbers for Great Britain, and not at devolved Administration or regional level.

Industrial Health and Safety: Death

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the probability of a person being killed at work.

Chris Grayling: The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in the workplace in 2009-10 is 151, which is a record low. This equates to a probability of 0.000005.

Industrial Health and Safety: Death

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deaths there were of members of the public from workplace accidents in each year from 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Chris Grayling: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 place a legal duty on employers and duty holders to report fatal injuries to members of the public that are killed as a result of an accident that is connected to a work activity, i.e. the deceased person was not at work themselves. The reports are made to the relevant enforcing authority: HSE, local authorities, and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
	The following table provides the figures from RIDDOR regarding fatal injuries to members of the public for the period 2005-06 to 2009-10. On average about three- quarters of such incidents in each of the last five years relate to deaths resulting from suicides and trespass on railways that are reported to ORR. These figures have remained reasonably constant since the requirement to report such incidents was introduced under RIDDOR '95 in 1996-97.
	
		
			  Fatal injuries to members of the public reported to all enforcing authorities under RIDDOR, 2005-06 to 2009/10( 1) 
			   Fatal injuries reported to HSE and local authorities  Suicides/trespass reported to ORR  Other fatal injuries reported to ORR  Total number of fatal injuries 
			 2005-06 85 283 33 401 
			 2006-07 88 298 29 415 
			 2007-08 70 279 22 371 
			 2008-09 101 298 26 425 
			 2009-10(1) 70 306 17 393 
			 (1 )Provisional.

Industrial Health and Safety: Death

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deaths from occupational illnesses there were in each year from 1997 to 2009.

Chris Grayling: No single source of information provides a count of the total number of people that have died each year from an occupational illness. For some causes of death, occupational cases are clinically indistinguishable from those due to other factors. For these causes numbers have to be estimated rather than counted, and year-on-year figures are not available.
	Research commissioned by HSE estimates that 8,019 cancer deaths in Great Britain in 2005 were attributable to exposures to carcinogens at work, and it is likely that a similar number would have occurred in each of the other years from 1997. This estimate includes deaths from the asbestos related cancer mesothelioma.
	Using other international research, it is also estimated that there are currently approximately 4,000 deaths in Great Britain each year from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) due to past occupational exposures to dusts, gases, vapours and fumes. Again, it is likely that a similar number would have occurred in each of the other years from 1997.
	Numbers of deaths each year in Great Britain from 1997 to 2007 (the latest year for which data are available) due to the small group of diseases that can be regarded as occupational on the basis of the cause of death alone are provided in the following table.
	Most of the occupational diseases that cause death usually take many years to develop following occupational exposures. Estimates of current deaths therefore largely reflect past industrial conditions.
	
		
			  Deaths due to occupational lung diseases, 1997 to 2007 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Mesothelioma(1) 1,367 1,541 1,615 1,633 1,861 1,867 1,887 1,978 2,046 (2)2,058 (2)2,156 
			 Asbestosis(3) 191 165 171 186 233 234 235 268 301 (2)327 (2)314 
			 Pneumoconiosis other than asbestosis 230 268 321 279 240 271 231 214 194 167 149 
			 Byssinosis 5 5 6 4 2 0 3 4 3 5 2 
			 Farmer's lung and other occupational allergic alveolitis 5 5 8 9 7 7 6 7 5 13 10 5 
			 Total 1,798 1,987 2,122 2,109 2,343 2,378 2,363 2,469 2,557 2,567 2,626 
			 (1 )Death certificates that mention mesothelioma. (2) Provisional. (3 )Death certificates that mention asbestosis excluding those that also mention mesothelioma.

Industrial Injuries

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) fatalities,  (b) major accidents and  (c) major injuries were reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 in (i) Wansbeck constituency, (ii) Northumberland and (iii) the UK in the last 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 places a legal duty on employers and duty holders to report fatal and defined major injuries arising from work activity. There is no legal requirement under RIDDOR for the reporting of major accidents. The data collected under RIDDOR for non-fatal injuries are subject to the drawback that there is considerable underreporting.
	It is not possible to accurately identify incidents reported under RIDDOR within parliamentary boundaries. Injury notifications received under RIDDOR are routinely allocated to the local authority (LA) administrative boundary of where the incident occurred. Statistics that HSE produce on a geographic basis are thus based according to this allocation, and not by parliamentary constituency.
	The only way to identify incidents by parliamentary constituency is via the postcode of where the incident happened; unfortunately, data may not be fully accurate at such level of detail. An examination of those records within the constituency of Wansbeck where a valid postcode exists shows that, in general, about 75% are within the former LA of Wansbeck and 25% within the former LA of Castle Morpeth.
	The most recent full-year for which geographical figures are available from RIDDOR for fatal injuries and reported major injuries is 2008-09. The following table provides the figures within the former local authorities of Wansbeck and Castle Morpeth, the county of Northumberland, and Great Britain.
	
		
			  Fatal injuries to workers and members of the public, and reported major injuries to workers, 2008-09( 1) 
			   Wansbeck  Castle Morpeth  Northumberland  Great Britain 
			 Fatal injuries to workers and members of the public - - 3 595 
			 Non-fatal major injuries to workers 20 34 162 28 692 
			 (1) Provisional

Industrial Injuries: Deaths

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many workplace fatalities there have been in each year since 2006.

Chris Grayling: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 places a legal duty on employers and duty holders to report all fatal injuries arising out of or in connection with work. The reports are made to the relevant enforcing authority; HSE, local authorities, and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
	The following table provides the figures from RIDDOR for the period 2005-06 to 2009-10. On average about three-quarters of fatal injuries to members of the public in each of the last five years relate to deaths resulting from suicides and trespass on railways that are reported to ORR. These figures have remained reasonably constant since the requirement to report such incidents was introduced under RIDDOR 1995 in 1996-97.
	
		
			  Fatal injuries reported to all enforcing authorities under RIDDOR, 2005-06 to 2009-10 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10( 1) 
			 Workers(2) 217 247 233 178 151 
			 Members of the public 401 415 371 425 393 
			 Total fatalities 618 662 604 603 544 
			 (1) Provisional. (2) The term 'workers' includes employees and the self-employed combined.

Local Housing Allowance: Greater London

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Hornchurch and Upminster constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average amount of reduction per week for such a tenant in each of those years.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) on 12 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 519-20W.

Lone Parents

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government's proposals for requiring lone parents to seek work when their youngest child reaches school age will apply to parents of children with disabilities.

Maria Miller: We recognise the difficulties that lone parents caring for disabled children may encounter if they were required to seek work.
	Regulations provide that lone parents on income support with a child aged seven to 15 who have a child receiving the middle or higher care component of disability living allowance are exempt from the lone parent changes and are not required to claim jobseeker's allowance or seek work.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to respond to the letter of 16 June 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Mr D. Randall.

Steve Webb: As the issues raised are for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the hon. Member's letter has been passed to HM Treasury for reply. I apologise for the delay in doing so.

Mesothelioma: Death

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deaths from mesothelioma there have been in Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency in the last five years.

Chris Grayling: The total number of mesothelioma deaths where the last residence of the deceased is recorded as being within the parliamentary constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole between 2003 and 2007 (the latest year for which data are available) is 15.
	 Source:
	HSE, British Mesothelioma Register.

Occupational Pensions

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to help reinvigorate occupational pensions and to encourage companies to offer high-quality pensions to all their employees; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: We plan to reinvigorate pension saving by introducing automatic enrolment into work place pensions from 2012. We have initiated a thorough and speedy review of auto-enrolment to make sure we get the details right. In addition, we shall take suitable opportunities to simplify the rules and regulations relating to pensions, as promised in the coalition agreement.

Pension Service

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were raised with the Pensions Service by each hon. Member between May 2005 and May 2010.

Steve Webb: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. The table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The information available covers the period 1 October 2009 to 31 May 2010.

Pensioners: Poverty

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to reduce the level of pensioner poverty in Bexleyheath and Crayford.

Steve Webb: We will restore the earnings link for the basic state pension from April 2011, with a 'triple guarantee' that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%. In 2011, if the basic state pension is increased by more than earnings under the triple guarantee we intend that, as a minimum, all single pension credit recipients will benefit from the full cash value of this increase.
	We will also protect key benefits for older people such as the winter fuel payment, free television licences, free bus travel, and free eye tests and prescriptions.
	We want to ensure that older people receive the help that they are entitled to. We aim to simplify the benefit system and as a first step we will be looking to conduct a research study into the feasibility of using existing data to help to improve the take-up of pension credit.
	We will help prevent people from falling into poverty in later life by simplifying the rules and regulations relating to pensions to help reinvigorate occupational pensions. We will encourage companies to offer high-quality pensions to all employees and will work with businesses and the industry to support auto enrolment.

Pensions: Consumer Price Index

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the use of the consumer price index to calculate final salary pensions.

Steve Webb: I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 July 2010,  Official Report, column 118W.

Pregnant Women: Grants

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households were in receipt of the Sure Start maternity grant for a second child in  (a) Stockport and  (b) Tameside in the latest year for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Sure State maternity grants were made to mothers for their second or subsequent child in  (a) Bishop Auckland and  (b) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency in 2009-10.

Steve Webb: A total of 274,000 Sure Start Maternity Grants were awarded in Great Britain in 2009-10. The exact number of awards for a second or subsequent maternity is not available, but is estimated to be 52% of all awards, around 143,000.
	The number of awards made in 2009-10 is available by Government Office Region or Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area only, not by local authority or constituency.
	 Note:
	Both numbers have been rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	 Source for total number of awards:
	Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Peterborough constituency receive  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) employment and support allowance.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and employment support allowance claimants in Peterborough parliamentary constituency: November 2009 
			   Number 
			 IB/SDA 4,540 
			 ESA 980 
			  Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 4. IB/SDA 'Claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'.  Source: Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data.

State Retirement Pensions

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects on pensioners of his Department's recent decision to link state pensions to earnings.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 July 2010,  Official Report, column 257W.

State Retirement Pensions

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he made of the level of the basic state pension under the Government's triple guarantee in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 July 2010,  Official Report, column 257W.

Vocational Guidance

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to assist education leavers to obtain work.

Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 July 2010,  Official Report, column 11, to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr Burrowes).

Wearside First Credit

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the funding provided by his Department to Wearside First Credit Union will be renewed after October 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Wearside First Credit Union has a growth fund contract with the Department for Work and Pensions that is due to end on 31 March 2011. There are no current plans to change this arrangement.

Work Capability Assessment: Autism

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of  (a) the effectiveness of the work capability assessment (WCA) for people with autism and  (b) the effects of implementation of the proposals in the recent internal review of WCA on people with autism.

Chris Grayling: The WCA is function-based rather than condition-based. The medical assessment is based on the severity of functional limitation caused by a condition; not on the basis of the condition itself, because different people may be affected in different ways by the same condition.
	The WCA was developed in close consultation with experts and specialist disability groups, including the National Autistic Society. The National Autistic Society was also involved in a recent department-led review of the operation of the WCA, on whose recommendation we are implementing changes to the WCA. As part of the review, experts analysed a randomly chosen sample of cases, covering a wide range of conditions.
	The review reported in March 2010 and concluded that, generally, the WCA is accurately identifying individuals for the correct benefit.
	Their conclusions and recommendations were based on expert analysis of a range of cases, considering the impact of revising the descriptors. The main effect of these changes is to take greater account of the way in which individuals use aids of adaptation to mitigate the functional effects of a health condition or disability. The changes will also widen the support group for individuals with certain communication problems and severe disability due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.

TRANSPORT

Accidents: Finance

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been allocated by his Department for in-depth accident investigation studies in 2010-11.

Philip Hammond: The Department for Transport has three dedicated accident investigation branches for air, maritime and rail safety incidents.
	Each of these branches exist solely for the purposes of accident investigations within their respective transport modes and therefore their entire 10-11 budget (which includes pay costs for staff, office running costs and capital investment costs) is £18.338 million is allocated for these purposes.
	In addition, the Department plays a major role in reporting on road accident investigations. There is no central Department for Transport funding allocated to in-depth road accident investigations in 2010-11. However all fatal accidents are investigated by specialist police accident investigators.

Barking-Gospel Oak Railway Line: Electrification

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the inclusion of the Barking to Gospel Oak line in the railway electrification programme; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: This scheme was one of a number assessed in Network Rail's Network Route Utilisation Strategy concerning electrification which was published in October 2009. This can be found at:
	http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20 Utilisation%20Strategies\Network\Working%20Group%204%20-% 20Electrification%20Strategy&pageid=4449&root=\RUS%20 Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies
	Government support rail electrification as it helps to reduce carbon emission and cut running costs. It is keeping the case for further electrification under review subject to rolling stock considerations, value for money and affordability. However, our priority is tackling the fiscal deficit and Ministers will consider the full range of proposed transport projects in parallel with the spending review process to ascertain what is affordable.

Biofuels

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment his Department has made of the contribution to the Government's environmental objectives of waste-derived biofuels produced using recycled methanol.

Norman Baker: The Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) collects information on the origins and sustainable performance of biofuels supplied under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). Currently methanol is used in the UK in the production process for Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Biodiesel. However the RFA do not hold information on the proportion of this methanol that is recycled.
	More generally, work within Government is looking at the potential renewable energy production and greenhouse gas consequences derived from treating a variety of waste streams with different technologies. This includes the production of transport fuels from waste.

Blue Badge Scheme

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on alleged  (a) abuse and  (b) misuse of the Blue Badge scheme for disabled drivers.

Norman Baker: The previous Government published a consultation document on 22 March 2010 that proposed detailed amendments to legislation to tackle abuse and deal with misuse. The Department for Transport has received 240 responses to the consultation from local authorities, members of the public, and groups representing disabled people and parking enforcement agencies. We are presently analysing the responses to the consultation exercise before deciding how to take matters forward. The Department has also received correspondence from members of the public who are concerned about misuse and I have met with the chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to discuss these issues.

Blue Badge Scheme

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many blue badges were issued by each local authority in  (a) 1996-97,  (b) 2001-02,  (c) 2005-06 and  (d) 2008-09.

Norman Baker: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Bus Services: Concessions

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) senior officials in his Department have had discussions with Ministers or officials of the Treasury on savings to be derived from the concessionary local bus travel scheme.

Norman Baker: holding answer 22 July 2010
	A number of discussions have taken place between senior officials and Ministers of the Department for Transport and HM Treasury in respect of the spending review about all areas of the Department's spending.

Bus Services: Concessions

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on the provision of free travel for pensioners.

Norman Baker: Department for Transport Ministers regularly meet local authorities-including the Local Government Association and the Passenger Transport Executive Group-to discuss transport issues, including the concessionary travel scheme.

Cars: Households

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many households own  (a) one and  (b) more than one car.

Michael Penning: The following table gives estimated car ownership figures for households in Great Britain in 2008 based on data from the National Travel Survey.
	
		
			  Household car availability: Great Britain, 2008 
			  Number of cars  % 
			 None 25 
			 One 43 
			 Two or more 32 
			 All households 100 
		
	
	These data and that for earlier years can be found in Table 2.2 of the Transport Statistics Bulletin - National Travel Survey 2008 at the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/162469/221412/221531/223955/32274311/NTS2008.pdf
	Data for 2009 will be published on the Department for Transport website on 29 July 2010.

Crossrail: Finance

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what private sector funding was provided towards the cost of Crossrail in 2009-10.

Theresa Villiers: The Crossrail funding package includes contributions from business with specific agreements in place with Canary Wharf Group (for £150 million), City of London (for £350 million), BAA (for £230 million), and Berkeley Homes Group (to construct the Woolwich Station box) as well as wider contributions being made through Business Rate Supplements, the planned Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 developer contributions.
	Construction of the Canary Wharf Crossrail station is currently under way and good progress is being made. It is envisaged, on the current rate of construction, that the £150 million Canary Wharf Group contribution to Crossrail will have been put in to the project by June 2011. The other contributions are subject to conditions being met which are set out in the specific agreements. The detailed profile of expenditure by private sector contributors is commercially confidential.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles used the Dartford-Thurrock crossing between 2100 on Friday  (a) 25 June and 0500 on Monday 28 June,  (b) 2 July and 0500 on Monday 5 July,  (c) 9 July and 0500 on Monday 12 July and  (d) 16 July and 0500 on Monday 19 July 2010.

Michael Penning: The numbers of vehicles using the Dartford-Thurrock crossing between 9 pm Friday and 5 am Monday on the weekends of 25-28 June, 2-5 July, 9-12 July and 16-19 July 2010 are as follows:
	
		
			   Northbound  Southbound 
			 25 to 28 June 2010 145,987 147,924 
			 2 to 5 July 2010 154,141 153,890 
			 9 to 12 July 2010 150,360 166,275 
			 16 to 19 July 2010 148,573 168,588

Departmental Civil Servants

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees of his Department attended Civil Service Live in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the (i) employee working hours taken up by and (ii) cost to his Department of such attendance in each such year.

Norman Baker: Civil Service Live events are owned and managed by the private company Dods (the publishers of Civil Service World), who bear all of the financial risks.
	The overall delegate numbers for Civil Service Live in 2008, 2009 and 2010 were approximately 6,000, 8,000 and 7,700 respectively. Delegate registration is managed centrally by Dods. Departments do not keep a detailed record of every member of staff that attends and so we are unable to estimate the number of working hours taken up.
	Civil servants do not pay to attend Civil Service Live events. There will have been some travel and subsistence costs for delegates, which will be paid for by individual departments. Civil servants attending the event will have followed the travel and subsistence guidelines set by their departments.

Departmental Contracts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the monetary value is of his Department's contracts with its suppliers which  (a) are under review and  (b) have been cancelled under his Department's plans to achieve cost savings.

Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 July 2010,  Official Report, column 339W.

Departmental Internet

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on website design in each year since 1997.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has measured website design and build costs in line with the guidance issued by the Central Office of Information (COI), "Measuring website costs (TG128)" since the 2009-10 financial year. These design and build costs were reported in the COI 2009-10 web performance management framework (web PMF) and are listed as follows.
	
		
			  Department for Transport website design and build costs 2009-10 
			  Website  Cost (£) 
			 www.businesslink.gov.uk/freightbestpractice 8,000 
			 www.businesslink.gov.uk/vanbestpractice (1)17,000 
			 www.dft.gov.uk 198,000 
			 www.direct.gov.uk/sharp 87,000 
			 www.direct.gov.uk/talesoftheroad 116,000 
			 www.transportdirect.info (2)1,092,000 
			 (1) Includes the cost of DDA compliance (2) Includes the cost of technical testing 
		
	
	In line with TG128, Transport executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are currently measuring their website design and build costs for reporting in the 2010-11 web PMF.
	The itemised cost for website design and build for the Department, executive agencies and NDPBs for the period between 1997 and 2009-10 are not available centrally and can not be calculated without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Going forward, the Department is seeking to reduce website design costs by increasingly designing websites in-house. Where it is necessary to outsource website design, the Department will be seeking the best value for money and, where possible, collaborating or negotiating to achieve savings.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has passed to the Treasury its submission detailing proposals for departmental spending cuts of  (a) 25% and  (b) 40%; and whether he plans to publish such submissions.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 22 July 2010
	My Department has made a submission to the Treasury in response to its request for illustrative scenarios of a 25% reduction and of further possible reductions beyond 25% in departmental budgets. I do not intend to publish details of these scenarios as they are subject to the spending review, due to conclude in the autumn.

Departmental Stationery

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on stationery in each year since 1997.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency was formed in April 2003. The British Transport Police Authority was established in July 2004 as an executive non-departmental public body of the Department. Passenger Focus was formed in July 2005. The Renewable Fuels Agency was fully operational from February 2008.
	The figures provided by the Department and each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies for stationery spend in each year since the formation of the Department are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 DFT(c) 4,947 234,622 326,389 291,146 244,212 327,574 352,077 478,932 
			 DSA n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 301,389 374,502 323,446 
			 DVLA 267,000 609,000 332,000 337,000 266,000 984,000 1,304,000 1,216,000 
			 GCDA 29,923 32,472 31,054 32,798 34,656 30,079 40,632 15,715 
			 HA n/a 398,322 292,080 211,772 281,305 260,940 181,575 186,553 
			 MCA 159,359 175,091 161,265 115,354 108,468 101,339 110,989 107,511 
			 VCA 18,720 19,966 25,993 23,135 25,357 26,950 26,846 25,054 
			 VOSA - 831,712 802,918 815,046 783,689 755,933 743,732 686,145 
			 BTP - - - 737,667 475,747 461,973 551,845 619,572 
			 NLB 28,061 26,431 31,614 45,448 37,832 39,941 27,745 20,957 
			 PF - - - 5,065 9,658 8,445 8,838 9,865 
			 RFA - - - - - 1,368 2,325 2,719 
			 RH 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 
			 THLS 62,649 73,580 62840 67,821 62,656 43,507 63,985 45,797 
			  Key:  DFT(c)-Department for Transport (Centre) DSA-Driving Standards Agency DVLA-Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency GCDA-Government Car and Despatch Agency HA-Highways Agency MCA-Maritime and Coastguard Agency VCA-Vehicle Certification Agency VOSA-Vehicle and Operator Services Agency BTP-British Transport Police NLB-Northern Lighthouse Board PF-Passenger Focus RFA-Renewable Fuels Agency RH-Railway Heritage THLS-Trinity House Lighthouse Service 
		
	
	The Department for Transport (Centre) has only been able to provide a partial answer for the year 2002-03, because of a move to a new accounting system following machinery of government changes in May 2002. The Driving Standards Agency is currently experiencing a problem with its accounting software, and cannot provide figures for the years prior to 2007-08. The Highways Agency holds financial information for the seven previous complete financial years in accordance with statutory retention periods. Railway Heritage has provided estimated figures.
	In 2007 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency changed to a new accounting system which accumulated the items which were previously accounted for separately as stationery and printed forms. An analysis of these accounts suggests that the difference in levels of expenditure year on year was caused by this accumulation. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency estimates the current spend on the initial stationery definition at between £275,000 and £325,000. To extract this data in the required format would involve interrogating numerous line items within these accounts and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Trinity House is funded from the General Lighthouse Fund, and therefore does not rely on government funding for its operations.
	The Department for Transport branch that sponsor Cycling England have said that this information can be provided only at disproportionate cost so figures for Cycling England are not included in the table.

Departmental Travel

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies has spent on travel for employees in each year since 1997.

Norman Baker: The table contains the available travel cost figures for the Department for Transport and its agencies. The central Department is only able to provide figures solely for travel from 2006-07 onwards. Figures for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are for both travel and subsistence.
	The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) can only provide figures from 2007-08, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) from 2005-06. Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The figures for Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) contain both travel and subsistence. Information for travel alone could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) cannot separate travel from other expenditure, and could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Department for Transport travel costs 2003-04 to 2009-10 
			  £ 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 DfT(c) n/a 5,394,782 5,026,551 3,572,860 3,180,383 3,942,790 3,866,478 
			 MCA - - 2,019,040 1,983,040 2,126,362 2,264,267 2,125,000 
			 HA 3,241,959 4,349,028 4,693,411 4,905,988 4,847,336 5,295,914 4,937,599 
			 DSA - - - - 4,596,151 4,015,815 2,714,351 
			 DVLA 630,320 654,675 851,489 1,721,644 1,230,642 1,480,501 1,201,869 
			 VOSA 6,825,000 6,675,000 7,160,000 6,866,000 7,001,000 7,828,000 6,419,000 
			 VCA 359,559 356,747 449,100 368,547 391,837 459,987 459,987 
			 n/a = Not available.

Driving: Eyesight

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who drive with vision below the required legal standard; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: No regular estimate is made of the number of people who drive with uncorrected vision of below the required standard. In the most recent period for which figures are available (2006-07) 13 drivers were notified to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency by police during a six-month period after failing a roadside vision test.

Driving: Licences

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to review procedures for application for Category F driving licences and the regulations on the use of such licences.

Michael Penning: There are no plans to review the application procedures for Category F, also known as agricultural tractor, driving licences or the regulations on the use of such licences.

Driving: Licensing

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there were any cases of motorcycle entitlement being removed from a driving licence sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for renewal or replacement in the last 12 months.

Michael Penning: holding answer 22 July 2010
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is not aware of any case in the last 12 months in which a motorcycle entitlement has been removed from a driver's record and licence.
	The Agency has a programme of continuous data quality checks in place to monitor the accuracy of its records.
	At present, some 2,364 records which contain a motorcycle entitlement are under examination as part of this work.

Driving: Licensing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time taken for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to cancel a driving licence reported stolen in  (a) the UK and  (b) abroad was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The issue of a new driving licence will immediately invalidate/cancel any earlier licences.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency aims to process all postal duplicate applications, i.e. applications to replace lost/stolen/defaced licences, within 15 working days of receipt at the Agency. Applications for a duplicate licence made over the phone are processed immediately. The average processing time for on-line application is 48 hours.

East Coast Main Line: Finance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the costs involved in paying for East Coast Main Line staff to travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh on  (a) a weekly,  (b) a monthly and  (c) an annual basis following the decision to reduce the number of East Coast Main Line services starting and terminating in Glasgow.

Theresa Villiers: The Government have made no specific assessment of additional staff travelling costs arising from the proposed timetable change between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is a matter for East Coast and the Department for Transport has noted that the costs are included within East Coast's overall costs for provision of the revised pattern of services.

East Coast Main Line: Personnel

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of employees who will have their place of work transferred from Glasgow to Edinburgh as a result of the decision to reduce East Coast Main Line services beginning or ending at Glasgow.

Theresa Villiers: Any changes in the place of work of any of East Coast's employees arising from the proposed May 2011 timetable changes are a matter for East Coast to determine through the rail industry's normal processes.

EC Directive on Driving Licences

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to ensure all drivers meet the vision standards contained in the EC Directive on Driving Licences 2006/126/EC as amended in 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport's Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Visual Disorders and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency have been considering how the changes to the vision standards contained in the EC Directive on Driving Licences 2006/126/EC should be applied in the UK.
	We intend to issue a public consultation on the proposals before making any changes.

Heysham Port

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what infrastructure transport projects are being planned to support the Port of Heysham;
	(2)  what economic impact assessment he has made of the costs to the economy of Lancashire of postponing the M6 (Heysham) Link project.

Norman Baker: The Heysham to M6 link road, being promoted by Lancashire county council, would improve access to the port of Heysham. As with other such schemes, the Government can give no assurances that they can fund this scheme until the outcome of the Spending Review is known.
	No economic impact assessment has been made of the costs to the economy of Lancashire of postponing the Heysham to M6 link road project.

M4

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of carriageway on the M4 are under repair.

Michael Penning: The following table sets out how many miles of carriageway on the M4, for which the Highways Agency has responsibility, have traffic management in place for the week 19 July to 25 July 2010:
	
		
			  Location  Direction  Type  Date range  Length in miles 
			 Woodlands St Mary Westbound Resurfacing, concrete barrier installation, drainage upgrade, bridge repair and installation of SPECs and CCTV cameras. 19 to 22 July 2.49 
			  Westbound As above 22 to 25 July 0.93 
			  Eastbound As above 19 to 22 July 3.11 
			  Eastbound As above 22 to 25 July 1.93 
			  
			 Junctions 8/9 to 10 Westbound Hard shoulder strengthening and lane 1 resurfacing 20 July 1.24 
			  Westbound As above 21 to 22 July 4.60 
			  
			 Junctions 8/9 to 10 Eastbound As above 21 to 22 July 3.23 
			  
			 Pier Protection to Woodlane Overbridge Westbound Refurbishment of bridge piers 19 to 25 July 2.42 
			  Eastbound As above  2.55 
			  
			 Junctions 16 to 17 Westbound Lane 1 closure for delivery of materials 19 to 21 July 1.24 
			  Westbound Lane closures for bridge work 20 to 22 July 1.74 
			  Westbound Lane 3 closure for barrier repair 22 July 0.74 
			  Eastbound Lane 1 closure for delivery of materials 19 to 20 July 0.93 
			  Eastbound Lane closures for bridge work 23 to 25 July 1.48 
			  
			 Second Severn Crossing Eastbound Hard shoulder, lane 1 and lane 2 closures for repairs to secondary dampers 19 to 23 July 2.29 
			  
			 Junctions 16-15 Eastbound Hard shoulder closure for cable diversion 20 to 21 July 1.05 
			  
			 Junctions 17-18 Westbound Hard shoulder closure for barrier repair 20 July 0.31 
			  Westbound Lane 3 closure for barrier repair 21 July 0.31 
			  
			 Total32.59 
		
	
	The Highways Agency plans works on the strategic road network to limit disruption to traffic flow and will therefore undertake a variety of works within the confines of traffic management.

Motorcycles: Helmets

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on compulsory wearing of helmets by those riding quad bikes; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: None. There are no plans to make the wearing of helmets compulsory for quad bikes but we continue to keep the position under review. There are a number of factors that are taken into consideration such as the level of use, the safety of riders in a collision and the proportionality of the costs of any regulation versus the safety impacts. The Highway Code advises that riders and passengers of tricycles and quadricycles should wear a protective helmet (rule 83).

Network Rail: Finance

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors he plans to take into account in determining the level of the annual Network Rail grant.

Theresa Villiers: The level of grant required for Network Rail to carry out its activities is determined by the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) as part of the five-yearly periodic review process. The ORR has published the level of grant and the factors taken into account in its document 'Periodic Review 2008-Determination of Network Rail's outputs and funding for 2009-14'. They include the high level outputs specified by the Secretary of State and the public funds available to deliver those outputs.
	The ORR has set Network Rail a target to achieve at least a 21% improvement in operating, maintenance and renewals efficiency between 2009-10 and 2013-14.

Official Cars: House of Commons

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from hon. Members on the running of car engines of ministerial cars while they are waiting in the precincts of the House; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: No representations have been received from hon. Members on the running of car engines of ministerial cars while waiting in the precincts of the House. The Government Car and Despatch Agency issues regular reminders to its drivers not to engage in this practice.

Port of Teesside

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the Port of Teesside.

Michael Penning: The port of Teesside (Teesport) is owned and operated by a private company, PD Ports.
	I understand the company's new owner has earmarked funding for the first phase of an expansion that would raise the terminal handing capacity from the current 235,000 teu (20 foot equivalent units) to 450,000 teu.

Public Transport: EU Action

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the European Commission's draft regulation on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport on public transport costs and fares in England; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport produced a post-consultation impact assessment on the European Commission's draft regulation on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport in December 2009. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. This indicated that the proposal would be likely to place a significant cost on the industry which could be passed on to passengers through higher fares.
	During negotiations significant changes to the original proposal were made by the Transport Council of Ministers which should reduce the cost to industry, but the text has to be agreed with the European Parliament which has opposed some of these changes. The impact assessment will be updated once the text is finalised.

Railway Network

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 722W, on railways, which proposed improvements to the rail strategic network he is examining prior to the comprehensive spending review.

Theresa Villiers: As part of the spending review process, the Government are examining the full range of transport expenditure.

Railways: Construction

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken of the High Speed North proposals in determining the design and route for a national high speed rail network.

Philip Hammond: In preparing their report and recommendations to Government, HS2 Ltd considered a range of potential network configurations, including a 'reverse E', which is similar to the High Speed North proposal. The Government expect to publish further detail on their strategy for a national high speed network prior to public consultation in the new year.

Railways: Overcrowding

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of levels of overcrowding on commuter rail services into London along  (a) the Midland Mainline and  (b) the Thameslink route.

Theresa Villiers: Information relating to overcrowding for commuter rail services at each station along the Midland Mainline and Thameslink routes is not available. The information requested is currently published annually in aggregated form by the Office for Rail Regulation within its 'National Rail Trends Yearbook'. The latest published data relate to passenger journeys in 2008-09.
	Chapter 7 of the latest update of 'National Rail Trends' contains these data and is available on the ORR website at:
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026

Railways: Passengers

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult passengers on routes and stops proposed through future rail franchise agreements.

Theresa Villiers: When developing the base specification for new rail franchises, the Department for Transport routinely consults passengers on a variety of issues, including services patterns.
	On 22 July, we launched the document "Reforming Rail Franchising" which seeks stakeholder views on the future direction of the policy. While it does not propose any specific changes to the existing consultation arrangements, I envisage it may generate proposals for improvements which we would consider in due course.

Railways: Todmorden

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects on  (a) the economy and  (b) journey times of the proposed Todmorden Curve rail project.

Theresa Villiers: The Todmorden Curve rail project is being promoted by Burnley borough council and Lancashire county council. It is for those bodies to carry out an assessment of the economic benefits arising from this scheme and the introduction of a new service between Burnley and Manchester. It is estimated that the journey time for the new service would be approximately 47 minutes.

Road Traffic

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to reduce congestion on the most congested A-roads.

Michael Penning: The Government believe that a functioning, effective road network is crucial to Britain's economic growth prospects. However, the single most pressing problem facing the nation is reducing the deficit.
	We therefore wish to focus on sweating the existing asset, and making sure that the road network is being used efficiently and effectively.
	For A roads which are trunk roads, the Department for Transport already delivers a wide range of measures to tackle congestion through the Highways Agency. This includes managing incidents and events more effectively, targeted capacity improvements, reducing delays from road works and delivering better information services to drivers to help them make better choices on how and when they travel.
	Tackling congestion on A roads which are not trunk roads is the responsibility of the relevant local highway authority who can address congestion as part of their Local Transport Plans. Measures to tackle congestion may include improving alternatives to car travel as well as general improvements to road capacity and traffic management. Schemes include bus lanes, traffic calming, cycle routes, pedestrian crossings, urban traffic control, park and ride, junction improvements, better information and working with employers and schools on travel plans to promote non-car travel.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to review the regional funding allocations for highway schemes made in 2005.

Norman Baker: Until the conclusion of the spending review this autumn the Department can give no assurances that highway schemes, or any other schemes, prioritised under the previous Government's Regional Funding Allocations (RFA) process will be funded to the previously published levels.

Roads: Safety

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes to his Department's funding to Nottinghamshire county council for road safety are proposed for 2010-11.

Michael Penning: holding answer 8 July 2010
	The following changes have been made to planned DFT grant payments for 2010-11 related to road safety for Nottinghamshire county council.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Funding stream for 2010-11  Original planned payments  Changes to planned payments  Currently planned payments 
			 Road safety revenue (part of area based grant) 1,586 -422 1,164 
			 Road safety capital grant 353 -353 0 
			 Integrated transport grant 10,660 -2,665 7,995 
		
	
	We have undertaken the reductions in planned funding in a way which maximises local authorities' flexibility to reshape their budgets according to their local priorities and where their efficiencies can be found. The Government do not expect there to be a direct correlation between grant reductions and local authority budget changes. Road safety should remain a high priority and local authorities should continue to resource it with funds reallocated as a result of identifying efficiency savings in other areas.

Seas and Oceans: Death

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths in the workplace took place at sea in each year from 1997 to 2009.

Michael Penning: The accidental deaths of workers on, or overboard from, UK commercial vessels (including fishing vessels) from 1997 to 2009 are reportable to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. These were as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997 38 
			 1998 31 
			 1999 13 
			 2000 35 
			 2001 13 
			 2002 15 
			 2003 14 
			 2004 16 
			 2005 11 
			 2006 22 
			 2007 22 
			 2008 13 
			 2009 19 
			 Total 262

Speed Limits

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the national speed limit.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport keeps all speed limits under constant review to ensure they remain appropriate. There are no current plans to reduce the national speed limit as we believe it offers the best balance between issues of safety, the environment and the economy.

Think Brand

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Think brand in each of the last five years; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the reports of that evaluation.

Michael Penning: In the last five years, the Department for Transport has undertaken two reviews for the THINK! road safety brand, one in 2006-07 and one in 2009-10. Costs are as follows (exclusive of VAT) and a copy of each of the reports has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	
		
			  Project  Cost (ex VAT) (£) 
			  THINK! brand review  
			 2006-07 72,000 
			 2009-10 30,150

Transport: South Yorkshire

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reductions in his Department's transport-related grant expenditure in South Yorkshire are planned in 2010-11.

Norman Baker: holding answer 15 July 2010
	The Government have made clear that their most urgent priority is to tackle the UK's record deficit. To help achieve this, on 10 June the Department for Communities and Local Government announced £1.166 billion of savings from grants to local authorities in 2010-11. Details of all transport grant reductions to local authorities are available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/
	The Department for Transport spends funds on the strategic road network through the Highways Agency. The Highways Agency's reporting systems do not record actual expenditure for local authority areas; expenditure is recorded by project and activity. Estimates are compiled for regional expenditure to supplement data reported in the Department's annual report.
	The Department for Transport provides funding for Network Rail to maintain or enhance the rail network, including railway stations. As part of the Government's in-year efficiency savings announced on 24 May, Network Rail has agreed to pay the Department £100 million in 2010-11.

Wrexham-Bidston Railway Line: Electrification

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects on the economy of the electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston rail line.

Theresa Villiers: We support further electrification of the rail network. The Government believe that a modern transport infrastructure is essential for a dynamic and entrepreneurial economy, as well as to improve well-being and quality of life. However, the deficit reduction programme must take precedence and plans for rail infrastructure will depend on decisions to be made in the comprehensive spending review.
	Officials are being kept informed on work being done by Merseytravel and the Welsh Assembly Government on proposals for electrification on the Wrexham to Bidston line.

EDUCATION

Academies: Ealing Central and Acton

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many expressions of interest in academy status have been received from schools in Ealing Central and Acton constituency.

Nick Gibb: We have received three expressions of interest in converting to academy status from schools in the Ealing Central and Acton constituency.

Academies: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the accuracy of figures provided by his Department's academy funding ready reckoner.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 6 July 2010
	The academy funding ready reckoner is intended to give maintained schools an indication of the level of funding they would receive as an academy, compared to their current funding. The main change in funding that an academy would see is a grant to cover the cost of local authority central services that the academy will now be responsible for funding itself. These amounts are based on data from statutory financial statements, published by every local authority, which are thoroughly checked by the Department for inconsistencies and anomalies. Local authorities are given the opportunity to review and confirm the accuracy of the figures they provide.

Academies: Special Educational Needs

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy that children with special educational needs are not excluded from academies on either a fixed term or a permanent basis when behavioural difficulties related to their special educational needs arise.

Nick Gibb: The duties and responsibilities of academies in respect of exclusions are, and will remain, the same as those of maintained schools.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effects on  (a) academic and  (b) behavioural standards in schools of the provision of new school buildings and facilities under the (i) Building Schools for the Future and (ii) Primary Capital Programme.

Nick Gibb: The Department in 2006 commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake an independent evaluation of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This runs for a total of six years to support the longitudinal evaluation of the impact of investment in school buildings on educational achievement. Three annual reports have been published, the most recent in March 2010.
	The latest evaluation included that, to date, BSF has had little statistically significant impact on pupils' attitudes and behaviour, and that it is overall too early to measure impact on attainment or whether the programme is providing value for money. This echoes the finding of the National Audit Office in its 2009 report "The Building Schools for the Future Programme" which highlighted how the programme had initially over-optimistic expectations on delivery; how estimates of the overall cost of the programme have increased substantially; and how the cost of setting up local education partnerships has been too high for the first authorities.
	No assessment on the Primary Capital Programme has been made at this stage.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 306W, what records his Department holds of advice given to Birmingham City Council by officials in the Department for Children, Schools and Families on the applicability to the City of Birmingham of the funding envelope applied to the most recent invitations to bid under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Nick Gibb: On 5 July, the Department announced that Building Schools for the Future projects which have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects which have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. This will have an impact on Birmingham's BSF projects.
	Partnerships for Schools (PfS), as the delivery agent for Building Schools for the Future (BSF), was responsible for managing the process of inviting local authorities to submit applications to local authorities to join the programme.
	PfS holds records of the response to Birmingham city council's Readiness to Deliver (RtD) application which was made in September 2009. Local authorities have been required to demonstrate that they are 'ready to deliver' before being invited to join the BSF programme, and the RtD covers in summary form the education strategy, the procurement strategy and the project governance arrangements.
	The records held comprise an action note of a meeting on 8 December 2009 between PfS and Birmingham city council. The action note highlights the advice that Birmingham needed to revise the project scope to reflect a funding envelope of circa. £100 million. The subsequent invitation to Birmingham city council to resubmit their documentation, which was sent on 23 December 2009, referred the authority to PfS guidance which included information on funding allocation.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the oral statement of 5 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 47-73, whether Dyke House Sports and Technology College in Hartlepool will be permitted to continue its capital build programme according to its proposed timetable.

Nick Gibb: On 5 July, the Department announced that BSF projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case (OBC) approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect.
	Since Dyke House sports and technology college is a sample school further consideration will be given shortly.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet the principal-designate of Brompton Academy, Gillingham to discuss the Academy's future building programme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 July 2010
	On 5 July, the Department announced that Building Schools for the Future projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case (OBC) approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect.
	The Secretary of State also announced on 5 July that he would consider the case of some academy projects in the pipeline on a case by case basis. Brompton academy falls in this category. Officials have already been in touch with the sponsor and they have been invited to provide information about their specific capital needs. We aim to let sponsors know the outcome of our review before the summer recess.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Hyndburn

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to improve the quality of school buildings in Hyndburn constituency.

Nick Gibb: The Department is reviewing all areas of capital spending. In light of current methods of allocating capital, its purpose is to ensure that future capital investment represents good value for money and strongly supports the Government's ambitions to reduce the deficit, raise standards and tackle disadvantage.

Business: Curriculum

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to include the development of entrepreneurial skills in the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: Although it is not part of the statutory national curriculum, guidance on enterprise education is included in the non-statutory programmes of study for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) at key stages 3 and 4, within the context of work-related learning. The existing primary national curriculum handbook also contains non-statutory guidance on promoting aspects of the school curriculum such as enterprise education.
	The Government have made clear that they intend to restore the national curriculum to its original purpose: a core national entitlement organised around subject disciplines. A slimmed down national curriculum will provide greater freedom for schools to build on the core statutory requirements and for teachers to use their professional judgment on how to teach. We will be announcing further details of our plans in due course.

Care Homes: Standards

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish his conclusions from his predecessor Department's consultation on the draft minimum standards for children's homes; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 21 July 2010
	The intention is to publish revised national minimum standards for children's homes, fostering service providers and adoption services together, with a summary of conclusions reached in the light of the consultation on the draft standards, in November 2010.

Connexions Service

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people in  (a) the West Midlands,  (b) Dudley borough and  (c) Dudley North constituency have used the Connexions service in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The following table shows how many young people in the West Midlands region and in Dudley local authority had significant contact with the Connexions Service in the years requested.
	
		
			  Interventions with young people by the Connexions Service, April 2006 to March 2010( 1) 
			   West Midlands region  Dudley 
			 2006/07 336,532 16,853 
			 2007/08 290,530 15,143 
			 2008/09 286,009 17,343 
			 2009/10 254,406 16,614 
			 1 Prior to April 2006 data unavailable at local authority level. 
		
	
	This information cannot be broken down by parliamentary constituency.
	Significant contact is recorded as an 'intervention', and includes one-to-one contact and telephone, e-mail and text message contact of an individual nature. It excludes bulk mail and publicity information. In addition to recorded interventions, young people may receive advice from local Connexions services in many other ways; for example through group sessions, exhibitions and publications, Careers libraries and One-Stop-Shops, as well as from Connexions Direct (nationally available since February 2004) via the telephone, web chat facility, e-mail or text message.

Departmental Manpower

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on human resources in each year since 1997.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education was established on 12 May 2010.
	Information on the cost of the human resource function for the Department is submitted to the Operational Efficiencies Programme (OEP) benchmarking survey. The cost of the human resources function in the former Department for Education and Skills was £8,534,000 in 2008/09. Costs for 2009/10 are currently being drawn up but will show a reduction. OEP benchmarking survey is due to be published by Treasury in October 2010.
	The publication of human resource function costs before 2008/09 was not a formal requirement and, therefore, information was not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on website design in each year since 1997.

Tim Loughton: The Department's expenditure on logo design is outlined as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2010 5,250 
			 2008 5,460 
			 2007 325 
		
	
	The Department's website is continuously updated and modifications are also made on the design from time to time. The most recent redesign and implementation of the Department's website, in May 2010, cost £6,345. Website designs and costs in previous years are outlined as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2009 5,278 
			 2008 2,111 
			 2007 (1)- 
			 (1 )No cost. 
		
	
	As the Department does not hold central records for each of the years since 1997, nor for its non-departmental public bodies, costs for both logo and website design cannot be provided for other years without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost.

Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 52W.
	Department for Education Ministers have attended ministerial induction events which are funded by the National School of Government through its Core Learning Programme. There is no separate charge to this Department.

Departmental Travel

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his  (a) Department and its predecessors and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on travel for employees in each year since 1997.

Tim Loughton: The following table shows how much the Department for Education and its non-departmental public bodies spent on travel for its employees in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   Business travel (£) 
			 1996/97 2,501,545 
			 1997/98 2,637,672 
			 1998/99 2,995,843 
			 1999/2000 3,762,955 
			 2000/01 4,703,604 
			 2001/02 5,150,470 
			 2002/03 5,287,937 
			 2003/04 8,534,956 
			 2004/05 8,607,197 
			 2005/06 9,061,644 
			 2006/07 9,594,155 
			 2007/08 10,219,214 
			 2008/09 11,936,467 
			 2009/10 11,644,576 
			  Notes: 1. Business travel. NDPB spend is included in each years figures from 2003/04. 2. In 2009/10 the split on business travel was DFE £4,121,466, NDPBs £7,423,110.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent on  (a) regular education maintenance allowance (EMA) payments and  (b) the twice-yearly EMA bonus payments in academic year (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener the YPLA's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries.

Free School Meals: Cornwall

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the take-up of free school meals in  (a) Cornwall and  (b) St Austell and Newquay constituency.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 July 2010
	 Information on the number of pupils taking free school meals on the day of the census, together with the number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, is shown in the following table for Cornwall local authority and St Austell and Newquay parliamentary constituency.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, maintained primary( 1)  and state-funded secondary( 1,2 ) schools: School meal arrangements as at January 2010 
			   Maintained nursery and primary( 1)  State-funded secondary( 1,2) 
			   Number on roll( 3)  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 4)  Percentage taking free school meals  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals( 3,)( 5)  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals  Number on roll( 3)  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 4)  Percentage taking free school meals  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals( 3,)( 5)  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 Cornwall local authority 37,630 4,180 11.1 4,890 13.0 31,960 2,510 7.9 3,280 10.3 
			 St Austell and Newquay parliamentary constituency 6,650 770 11.6 920 13.8 5,900 480 8.1 610 10.4 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes full and part time pupils who are sole or dual (main) registrations. Includes boarders. (4) Number of pupils taking a free school meal on the day of the census. (5) Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons eg through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim.  Source: School Census

Free Schools

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what sources of advice and information are available to parents who are considering establishing a free school;
	(2)  how many contracts New Schools Network has been awarded in the last 12 months.

Nick Gibb: Advice and information on establishing a free school is available on the Department for Education's website at:
	www.education.gov.uk/freeschools
	Those considering developing a proposal are advised to contact the New Schools Network (NSN) in the first instance. NSN is able to provide guidance on developing a proposal for submission to the Department. The contact details for the NSN are also listed on the Department's website.
	The Department has not entered into any contracts with the New Schools Network in the last 12 months. However, on 18 June 2010 the Department agreed to enter into a £500,000 grant agreement with NSN to provide support for groups wanting to find out more about setting-up a free school.

GCSE: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in  (a) the West Midlands,  (b) Dudley borough and  (c) Dudley North constituency obtained five A* to C grades at GCSE in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: The information available to answer this question is provided in the following tables. Parliamentary constituency data for years 1997/98 to 2003/04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  (a) Number of pupils in the West Midlands achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent 1996/97-2008/09( 1,2) 
			   Total number of pupils  Number of pupils achieving 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent  Percentage of pupils achieving 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent 
			 1996/97 61,498 24,733 40.2 
			 1997/98 60,913 25,138 41.3 
			 1998/99 62,020 26,972 43.5 
			 1999/2000 61,288 27,441 44.8 
			 2000/01 63,945 29,262 45.8 
			 2001/02 63,881 30,742 48.1 
			 2002/03 65,293 32,797 50.2 
			 2003/04 66,779 33,967 50.9 
			 2004/05 66,240 36,001 54.3 
			 2005/06 67,742 38,232 56.4 
			 2006/07 68,658 40,734 59.3 
			 2007/08 67,466 43,263 64.1 
			 2008/09 64,883 45,461 70.1 
			 (1) Figures for 2004/05-2008/09 are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.Figures for 1996/97-2003/04 are for pupils aged 15 on 31 August. (2) Includes pupils attending all maintained schools including Academies, City Technology Colleges and special schools  Source:  School Achievement and Attainment tables and National Pupil Database (Final data) 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Number of pupils in Dudley Borough achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent 1996/97-2008/09( 1,2) 
			   Total number of pupils  Number of pupils achieving 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent  Percentage of pupils achieving 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent 
			 1996/97 3,639 1,548 42.5 
			 1997/98 3,660 1,620 44.3 
			 1998/99 3,695 1,760 47.6 
			 1999/2000 3,673 1,776 48.4 
			 2000/01 3,951 1,963 49.7 
			 2001/02 4,008 2,073 51.7 
			 2002/03 3,961 2,016 50.9 
			 2003/04 3,985 2,044 51.3 
			 2004/05 4,077 2,182 53.5 
			 2005/06 4,070 2,273 55.8 
			 2006/07 4,136 2,353 56.9 
			 2007/08 4,202 2,566 61.1 
			 2008/09 3,965 2,644 66.7 
			 (1) Figures for 2004/05-2008/09 are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.Figures for 1996/97 -2003/04 are for pupils aged 15 on 31 August. (2) Includes pupils attending all maintained schools including Academies, City Technology Colleges and special schools.  Source:  School Achievement and Attainment tables and National Pupil Database (Final data) 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Number of pupils in Dudley North Parliamentary Constituency achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent 1996/97 and 2004/05-2008/09( 1,2) 
			   Total number of pupils  Number of pupils achieving 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent  Percentage of pupils achieving 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent 
			 1996/97 1,049 392 37.4 
			 2004/05 1,148 578 50.3 
			 2005/06 1,125 573 50.9 
			 2006/07 1,168 601 51.5 
			 2007/08 1,179 680 57.7 
			 2008/09 1,126 728 64.7 
			 (1) Figures for 2004/05-2008/09 are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.Figures for 1996/97 are for pupils aged 15 on the 31 August. (2) Includes pupils attending all maintained schools including Academies, City Technology Colleges and special schools  Source:  School Achievement and Attainment tables and National Pupil Database (Final data)

Headteachers: Pay

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which head teachers in which schools had a remuneration package of over £120,000 in 2009-10; and what the remuneration package was of each.

Nick Gibb: In maintained schools teachers are employed either by the local authority or the Governing body at the school, and therefore the Department does not hold details of individual remuneration packages.
	Since 31 March 2010, information on teachers employed by local authorities earning £150,000 or more in the 2009-10 financial year is required to be published in their accounts.

Higher Education: Admissions

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students from  (a) Staffordshire and  (b) Tamworth applied for university entry in 2009.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in UK institutions from Staffordshire and Tamworth in 2009, based on information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) 
			   Number of applicants 
			 Staffordshire constituencies 8,677 
			 (of which from) Tamworth 695 
			  Source:  UCAS. 
		
	
	The constituencies included in Staffordshire are Burton, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent Central, Stoke-on-Trent North, Stoke-on-Trent South, Stone and Tamworth, and based on the boundaries in 2009.

Local History: Curriculum

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps are being taken to encourage the teaching of local history in schools.

Nick Gibb: We intend to review the national curriculum and we will announce the detail of the process for the review in due course. We will restore the national curriculum to its original purpose-a core national entitlement organised around subject disciplines and we will consult widely on it. History is a vital part of young peoples' education and will be covered in the consultation.

National Curriculum Tests

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps Ofsted plans to take to assess the performance of schools which did not take part in standard assessment tests in 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 12 July 2010:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	The boycott of Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) will have little or no impact on inspection at this stage and this position is set out in guidance issued to schools and inspectors in the June 2010 version of our journal "Schools and Inspection", available online at
	www.ofsted.gov.uk
	During inspections of those schools which participated in the boycott, inspectors cannot take account of the provisional Key Stage 2 SAT results which have, in the past, been available. These provisional results often provide a useful starting point for inspectors' discussions with schools, and judgements about pupils' attainment, pending publication of the validated results in the autumn term.
	However, inspectors can still follow the broad principles set out in our "Evaluation schedule for schools" and supplementary guidance. In reaching an overall view about attainment, inspectors will continue to exercise professional judgement in weighing all the evidence they have gathered and setting this against the credibility and accuracy of the school's teacher assessment data.
	Ofsted and Department for Education officials are currently assessing whether the absence of data for the schools which participated in the boycott will affect the validity of contextual value-added measures or distort national benchmarks for attainment thresholds. A critical factor relates to whether the historic performance of schools which boycotted the tests is broadly representative of schools as a whole. For example, if there was a predominance of weaker schools, the national picture of attainment for 2010 might be artificially inflated by their absence from the statistics.
	These are critical issues which require careful consideration before we issue further guidance for the autumn term 2010. The autumn term guidance will deal with the impact of the boycott on attainment and progress data in RAISEonline and its use by inspectors. In addition, It will continue to steer inspectors to exercise professional judgement in weighing all the evidence they have gathered.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Ofsted

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the reform of Ofsted; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government plan to streamline and refocus Ofsted inspection, and introduce greater proportionality into the inspection arrangements. School inspection will in future be centred on core areas around teaching and learning, and outstanding schools will be freed from routine inspection, subject to them maintaining their performance and the confidence of parents. Similar freedoms are proposed for colleges. Further detail on this programme of reform will be announced in due course.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to announce his policy on personal, social, health and economic education.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 July 2010
	We are considering our plans for PSHE and will make an announcement in due course.

Physics: Teachers

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to increase the incentives for physics graduates to enter the teaching profession.

Nick Gibb: We accept that there is a continuing need to increase the number of physics teachers and it is our policy intention to attract more physics and other science graduates into the profession. We are therefore reviewing the routes into teaching and the incentives offered to well qualified people who want to teach physics or one of the other science disciplines. We are considering a scheme to repay the student loans of science and mathematics teachers. We have also announced plans to double the number of participants in the successful scheme Teach First so that more schools may benefit from the talents of the country's best graduates. Three-quarters of Teach First participants teach the most demanding shortage subjects, including science. Further initiatives will be announced when we are in a position to do so.

School Improvement Partners

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the role of school improvement partners.

Nick Gibb: The Department is considering the role of School Improvement Partners in the context of the overall school improvement system. This is one of the areas to be discussed by the new advisory group focusing on the role of local authorities announced by the Secretary of State on 8 July.

Schools: Cricket

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has allocated to  (a) all schools,  (b) non-selective state schools,  (c) selective state schools and  (d) independent schools for cricket in the last 12 months.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not allocate money to schools specifically for cricket. Cricket taught as part of the national curriculum will be funded through schools' core funding. Over the last five years, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has allocated £1.5 million to the ECB to develop and improve links between schools and local cricket clubs as part of the school-club links programme. All maintained schools in England are currently part of the national network of school sport partnerships and are able to benefit from these links. Independent schools may join these partnerships on a cost neutral cost basis.

Schools: Employment Tribunals Service

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on employment tribunal claims arising from schools opting out of national pay and terms and conditions arrangements in each of the next three years.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is not the employer of members of the school work force and accordingly it has made no estimate for expenditure on employment tribunal claims in schools.

Schools: ICT

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the contribution of ICT and broadband technologies to improving the quality of education and attainment standards.

Nick Gibb: The Department recognises the role that technology can play to support good teaching and deliver improvements in attainment. However, we have made it clear that we think schools are best placed to make decisions about how to use the resources available to them to support the needs of their pupils.

Schools: ICT

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of attainment in schools of ending the Harnessing Technology Grant.

Nick Gibb: The Harnessing Technology Grant is being reduced by 50% in the current financial year. ICT infrastructure is now well-embedded in schools-for example all schools now have broadband internet connections. We believe that technology, combined with good teaching, will continue to help to improve levels of attainment. We have made it clear, however, that we want schools and local authorities to take their own decisions on the best use of technology in their particular circumstances.

Schools: Musical Instruments

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that every school child has an opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

Nick Gibb: A solid, knowledge-based music education is important, and so is learning a musical instrument. We recognise that there are limitations on how far classroom teachers can be expected to provide instrumental tuition and are looking at how provision can be shaped in future in the context of an inevitably tight financial settlement.

Schools: Racism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints about racism in schools have been forwarded to his Department by Nottinghamshire County Council in each of the last three years.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 7 July 2010
	There have been no complaints about racism in schools directed to this Department from Nottinghamshire county council within the past three years.

Schools: Standards

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what plans his Department has for the future of National Challenge trusts for schools;
	(2)  whether his Department plans to award trust status to Arrow Vale High School, Worcester.

Nick Gibb: We have not yet made a decision on the future of National Challenge Trusts. An announcement will be made in due course.

Secondary Education: Standards

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of secondary school educational standards in  (a) South Northamptonshire and  (b) England.

Nick Gibb: The number and percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in  (a) South Northamptonshire and  (b) England, achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs in the year 2008/09 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils( 1,2 ) in (a) South Northamptonshire( 3)  and (b) England( 4)  achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs in 2008/09 
			   Number of pupils( 1)  Number of pupils( 1)  achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs  Percentage of pupils( 1)  achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs 
			 South Northamptonshire Parliamentary Constituency(3) 1,319 708 53.7 
			 England(4) 578,840 293,443 50.7 
			 (1) Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (2) Includes pupils attending all maintained schools including academies, city technology colleges and special schools. (3) Regional figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. (4) England figures include pupils recently arrived from overseas.  Source: National Pupil Database (Final Data).

Teach First

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department allocated to the Teach First programme between its inception and May 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department has allocated a total of £51.24 million to the Teach First programme between its inception in 2002 and March 2011, which includes the extra £4 million announced by the Secretary of State on 5 July to facilitate a further expansion of Teach First.

Teach First: North West

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much of the grant for the Teach First programme announced on 7 July 2010 will be disbursed in the North West; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Teach First have had a presence in the North West since 2005. Of the 560 starting the programme in 2010-11, 63 have been recruited from the North West. The new funding announced by the Secretary of State on 5 July is largely intended to pave the way for further expansion into areas not already served by Teach First, including the North East, South West and East of England.

Teachers: Pay

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what proportion of schools had  (a) applied for and  (b) received permission not to pay teachers according to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document as at 25 May 2010;
	(2)  how many  (a) school governing bodies and  (b) local authorities have (i) applied for and (ii) received permission not to pay teachers according to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document under the provisions of section 2 of the Education Act 2002.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 July 2010
	Since the provisions of section 2 of the Education Act 2002 (the Powers to Facilitate Innovation) were introduced, the Department has received three applications of which one was from a governing body, and two were from local authorities, requesting amendments to teachers' pay and conditions. None of these applications resulted in the Secretary of State making an order under these powers. There are some 23,000 maintained schools in England.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to reply to question 3217, on the Building Schools for the Future programme in Birmingham, tabled on 14 June 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 July 2010
	A response has been issued today.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 7212, tabled on 6 July 2010, on Building Schools for the Future and Dyke House.

Nick Gibb: A response will be sent to the hon. Member today.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 7689, tabled on 7 July 2010, on the New Schools Network.

Nick Gibb: A response will be sent to the hon. Member today.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 7769, tabled on 7 July 2010, on information and advice to parents on free schools.

Nick Gibb: A response will be sent to the hon. Member today.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Advertising

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of restrictions on alcohol advertising in cinemas; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: I have been asked to reply
	, as advertising in cinemas falls under my remit as Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries.
	Cinema advertising in the UK is strictly controlled through industry self-regulation, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority. This regulatory system, which is independent of Government and ultimately responsible for setting the standards in advertising, regularly reviews the effectiveness of the alcohol advertising rules.
	The regulation of alcohol advertising must be robust and based on best evidence. If new evidence emerged which clearly highlighted major problems in relation to consumer harm or protection of the vulnerable caused by alcohol advertising, then the regulators would need to consider this fully and take appropriate action.

Alzheimer's Disease: Cumbria

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding has been allocated to caring for people with Alzheimer's disease in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Carlisle constituency for the next 12 months.
	(2)  how many people in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Carlisle constituency have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Paul Burstow: The Department currently allocates funding directly to primary care trusts (PCTs). PCT allocations are not broken down by policy area. PCTs make decisions on investment in health care for their communities, taking into account both local and national priorities.
	In 2010-11, Cumbria Teaching PCT received a revenue allocation of £826.9 million. Data on the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is not collected centrally. However, the Quality and Outcomes Framework includes a disease register for patients who have been diagnosed with any form of dementia (including Alzheimer's disease). The latest available figures are for 2008-09.
	There were .3,114 patients on the dementia register in Cumbria PCT in 2008-09. The figures are organised by practice and aggregated into PCT and strategic health authority. It is therefore not possible to give figures for Carlisle constituency.
	 Notes:
	1. QOF: QOF is the national Quality and Outcomes Framework, introduced as part of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract on 1 April 2004. Participation by practices in the QOF is voluntary, though participation rates are very high, with most Personal Medical Services (PMS) practices also taking part.
	2. The published QOF information was derived from the Quality Management Analysis System (QMAS), a national system developed by NHS Connecting for Health.
	3. QMAS uses data from general practices to calculate individual practices' QOF achievement. QMAS is a national IT system developed by NHS Connecting for Health to support the QOF. The Quality Management Analysis System captures the number of patients on the various disease registers for each practice.

CJD

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what testing of the relatives of individuals affected by variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease his Department undertakes.

Anne Milton: The Department does not undertake any such testing.
	There is no blood or other test currently available for routine variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease testing of asymptomatic individuals.

CJD

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the time taken for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease to incubate.

Anne Milton: The incubation period for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is unknown and may vary due to factors such as route of transmission and genotype of patient. For the majority of cases where consumption of meat or meat products is presumed to be the route of infection the minimum incubation period is likely to be five years, with a mean period of around 10-12 years and the maximum, as in other human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, may extend over decades. Of the three clinical cases of vCJD presumed to be associated with blood transfusion the incubation periods are estimated to be between six and nine years.

CJD

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease affecting the MV gene type have been reported in  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales,  (c) England and  (d) Northern Ireland since 1996;
	(2)  how many cases of  (a) definite,  (b) probable and  (c) possible variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease of the MV gene type have been recorded since 1996;
	(3)  how many deaths from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease among people with  (a) MM variations,  (b) MV variations and  (c) VV variations there have been since 1996.

Anne Milton: There have been no definite or probable cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in patients with a MV genotype. A single possible case of vCJD in a patient with a MV genotype was reported in 2008 in Scotland. This case is recorded in the 17th Annual Report of the National Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Surveillance Unit published in November 2009 and publicly available at:
	www.cjd.ed.ac.uk/report17.htm
	The 17th Annual Report records that of the four patients with a final classification of possible vCJD, three were of the MM genotype and only one of MV genotype.
	The MV case has also been described in a publication: "Variant CJD in an individual heterozygous for PRNP codon 129 Kaski D, Mead S, Hyare H, Cooper S, Jampana R, Overell J, Knight R, Collinge J, Rudge Lancet 2009. 374:212.
	The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Surveillance Unit has provided the following information about deaths from vCJD:
	
		
			  United Kingdom definite and probable vCJD deaths 1995 to 2010 
			   Number deaths  Genotype known  Genotype unknown  MM  MV  VV 
			 1995 3 3 0 3 0 0 
			 1996 10 10 0 10 0 0 
			 1997 10 10 0 10 0 0 
			 1998 18 18 0 18 0 0 
			 1999 15 15 0 15 0 0 
			 2000 28 25 3 25 0 0 
			 2001 20 18 2 18 0 0 
			 2002 17 15 2 15 0 0 
			 2003 18 8 10 8 0 0 
			 2004 9 8 1 8 0 0 
			 2005 5 5 0 5 0 0 
			 2006 5 5 0 5 0 0 
			 2007 5 5 0 5 0 0 
			 2008 1 1 0 1 0 0 
			 2009 3 3 0 3 0 0 
			 2010 2 2 0 2 0 0 
			 Total 169 151 18 151 0 0

CJD

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition of  (a) probable and  (b) possible his Department uses in the identification of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases.

Anne Milton: The Department uses the internationally recognised World Health Organisation diagnostic criteria for case classification, research protocols and official statistics. These are publicly available at:
	www.who.int/entity/zoonoses/diseases/Creutzfeldt.pdf

Consumer Groups

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consumer groups he has met since his appointment.

Simon Burns: There have been no meetings between the Secretary of State for Health and consumer groups since his appointment.

Dementia

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on introducing a statutory minimum level of dementia awareness training for those working with older people; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: No such representations have been received. Objective 13 of the National Dementia Strategy calls for an informed and effective work force for people with dementia, to be achieved by effective basic training and continuous professional and vocational development. The Department has recently received the results of a mapping exercise identifying the current extent of accredited dementia education and training, and where there are gaps. This evidence is being considered by a work force advisory group chaired by the National Clinical Director for Dementia, Professor Alistair Burns, and including a range of key stakeholders.

Departmental Buildings

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on office refurbishment in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: Information on the spend on office refurbishment is only available for the Department from April 1998 and NHS Connecting for Health from 2005. This expenditure was as follows:
	
		
			  April to March each year  Expenditure  on office refurbishment (£) 
			 1998- 99 1,271,733 
			 1999- 2000 1,453,483 
			 2000- 01 652,456 
			 2001- 02 555,000 
			 2002- 03 788,000 
			 2003- 04 1,113,565 
			 2004- 05 963,974 
			 2005- 06 5,673,368 
			 2006- 07 3,718,976 
			 2007- 08 2,704,610 
			 2008- 09 4,262,629 
			 2009- 10 5,270,612 
		
	
	Comprehensive information on refurbishment expenditure from all of the Department's non-departmental bodies and executive agencies is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Limited information from 2001 to 2010 has been obtained from the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, General Social Care Council, Care Quality Commission, Health Protection Agency, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Appointments Commission. Total expenditure for refurbishment for these bodies was as follows:
	
		
			  April to March each year  Expenditure on refurbishment (£) 
			 2001- 02 32,000 
			 2002- 03 2,930,000 
			 2003- 04 267,000 
			 2004- 05 215,000 
			 2005- 06 6,847,000 
			 2006- 07 3,132,000 
			 2007- 08 4,566,000 
			 2008- 09 5,113,000 
			 2009- 10 4,072,000

Departmental Official Hospitality

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: Information on hospitality in the Department is not available before 2004.
	Hospitality expenditure is recorded in relation to catering provided for meetings and events. The Department orders the majority of hospitality through the central catering contract, which is used for Richmond house, Skipton house, Wellington house and New Kings Beam house but excludes Quarry house. Hospitality expenditure from 2004 to 2010 for the Department is as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure on hospitality (£) 
			 2004-05 550,746 
			 2005-06 607,598 
			 2006-07 580,360 
			 2007-08 650,513 
			 2008-09 616,202 
			 2009-10 310,942 
		
	
	Comprehensive information on hospitality for NHS Connecting for Health and a number of our other bodies and executive agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Limited information is available from 2002 to 2010 for the Appointments Commission, Care Quality Commission, Health Protection Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Total expenditure on hospitality by these organisations is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Expenditure on hospitality (£) 
			 2002-03 2,000 
			 2003-03 1,000 
			 2004-05 129,000 
			 2005-06 186,000 
			 2006-07 188,000 
			 2007-08 282,000 
			 2008-09 351,000 
			 2009-10 429,000

Departmental Utilities

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on (i) electricity, (ii) water, (iii) heating and (iv) telephone services in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: Information on electricity, water and heating expenditure in the Department is not available before 1999. Information on telephone services expenditure in the Department is not available before 2000.
	Information for electricity, water and heating expenditure is collected centrally for a number of the Department's buildings, which are managed, centrally by the Department and NHS Connecting for Health (Connecting for Health was formed in 2005). The figures include Richmond house, Skipton house, Wellington house, Hannibal house (building vacated September 2005), and Eileen house (building vacated July 2005), Hexagon house, Prospect house, Vantage house, 1 Whitehall, Princes Exchange and 8 and 9 Hi Tech Village. Costs for other buildings are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure on electricity, water and heating from 1999 to 2010 and on telephone services from 2000 to 2010 for the Department (including NHS Connecting for Health) was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Electricity  Water  Heating  Telephone services 
			 1999-2000 682,983 32,607 57,184 (1)- 
			 2000-01 613,563 32,222 78,807 2,743,708 
			 2001-02 632,791 29,010 67,097 2,904,362 
			 2002-03 602,320 34,685 86,367 3,287,264 
			 2003-04 631,337 28,131 78,989 4,645,502 
			 2004-05 754,096 24,081 115,470 4,430,289 
			 2005-06 954,523 43,144 174,364 4,932,848 
			 2006-07 993,195 40,364 149,917 4,714,896 
			 2007-08 1,099,407 35,142 110,240 4,087,360 
			 2008-09 1,577,017 40,333 148,151 4,370,110 
			 2009-10 1,256,179 45,500 156,977 3,405,017 
			 (1) Not available. 
		
	
	Comprehensive information on electricity, water, heating and telephone services from all of the Department's non-departmental bodies and executive agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Limited information from 2001 to 2010 has been obtained from the General Social Care Council, Care Quality Commission, Health Protection Agency, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Monitor, Appointments Commission and the Human Tissue Authority. Total expenditure for electricity, water, heating and telephone services for these bodies is as follows:
	
		
			   Electricity  Water  Heating  Telephone services 
			 2001-02 1,000 (1)- (1)- 79,000 
			 2002-03 21,000 20,000 (1)- 191,000 
			 2003-04 2,000 20,000 (1)- 245,000 
			 2004-05 18,000 (1)- (1)- 213,000 
			 2005-06 12,000 (1)- (1)- 215,000 
			 2006-07 35,000 (1)- (1)- 254,000 
			 2007-08 57,000 (1)- (1)- 300,000 
			 2008-09 4,000 (1)- (1)- 307,000 
			 2009-10 424,000 36,000 6,000 988,000 
			 (1 )Not available.

Direct Payments

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future of direct payments; and how much funding will be made available to local authorities to enable them to make such payments in 2010-11.

Paul Burstow: It is this Government's policy to extend the greater roll out of personal budgets, including direct payments, to give people and their carers more control and purchasing power.
	Direct payments are paid in lieu of local authority services, there is therefore no separate budget for direct payments and individual local authorities would make such payments from their core funding. In light of demographic changes, we would expect an increasing number of people receiving social care to choose to receive a personal budget in the form of a direct payment.

Euthanasia

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 889-90W, on the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, if he place in the Library a copy of each document in his Department's file on  (a) the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill [Lords] of Session 2002-03 and  (b) the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill [Lords]; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: I have asked departmental officials to retrieve and examine the documentation requested by my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West (Mr Amess). Once this has been done I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Foetal Tissue

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisation is responsible for overseeing the transferral of foetal tissue from clinics to researchers; what official reports have been published on this subject in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Responsibility for transferring foetal tissue to researchers lies with the organisation that supplies the tissue to the researcher. No official reports have been published on this subject in the last five years.

Foetal Tissue

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foetal tissue banks are in operation; what commercial arrangements exist between clinics and foetal tissue banks or those conducting research; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Information on the number of foetal tissue banks in operation, or on the arrangements between clinics and foetal tissue banks or those conducting research, is not collected centrally.
	The Human Tissue Act 2004 requires that the storage of human tissue for research, and other "scheduled purposes" is licensed. The regulator responsible for licensing is the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). However, the HTA does not have a category of "foetal tissue bank" and so could not give reliable figures for foetal tissue banks in operation. It has published a series of Codes of Practice on key activities involving human tissue, including consent (Code of Practice 1) and research (Code of Practice 9).

Foetal Tissue

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many research projects are underway nationally involving foetal tissue; how much public money is being spent on these projects; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally.

Food

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with which food and food-related companies and trade associations  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department have had discussions since taking office.

Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health met with Unilever on 21 July 2010.

Food Standards Agency

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staff  (a) turnover and  (b) absentee rate was at each office of the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The staff turnover rate for staff located at each office of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) over the last three financial years was as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   London  Scotland  Wales  Northern Ireland 
			 2009-10 11.0 3.7 2.8 0.0 
			 2008-09 12.0 12.1 11.1 2.9 
			 2007-08 10.8 9.3 2.7 14.6 
		
	
	The absentee rate for staff located at each office of the FSA over the last three financial years was as follows:
	
		
			   London  Scotland  Wales  Northern Ireland 
			 2009-10 4.9 5.5 7.2 7.3 
			 2008-09 6.9 8.2 7.1 8.6 
			 2007-08 5.0 11.7 2.4 5.9 
			  Notes:  1. The response provided is in relation to the FSA. The table does not include staff numbers for the Meat Hygiene Service, an Executive agency of the FSA.  2. The information provided is based on Cabinet Office reporting requirements, and reflects the data provided by the agency for the last three financial years. 'Absentee rate' is calculated on the basis of average working days lost (AWDL) per employee, as per Cabinet Office reporting requirements. Data prior to 2007-08 were calculated on a calendar days' lost basis, and the equivalent AWDL rates could not be produced within the timeframe for response.

Food Standards Agency

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department working on nutrition have experience of working in the food industry on nutritional matters.

Anne Milton: The information requested is not held.

Food Standards Agency

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many meetings with Food Standards Agency officials he has had since his appointment;
	(2)  what meetings he has had with board members of the Food Standards Agency since his appointment.

Anne Milton: I met with the following members of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on Monday 19 July:
	Lord Rooker (chairman);
	Tim Smith (chief executive);
	Margaret Gilmour (FSA executive board member); and
	Chrissie Tsampazi (private secretary).
	A visit to the FSA to meet staff has also been arranged.

Food Standards Agency

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efficiency savings were made by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last three years.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efficiency savings have been made by the Food Standards Agency in the last three years for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has made significant steps towards improving value for money and has reduced gross cost in the last three years by 11% (£24 million) from £221 million in 2007-08 to £197 million in 2009-10.
	This has been driven primarily by modernisation of the FSA's executive agency, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) implemented over the last three years, reducing MHS's expenditure by 22% (£19 million) from £87 million to £68 million and headcount by 23% (426) from 1,860 to 1,434. The FSA has also undergone a significant internal restructuring to improve effectiveness and delivered savings of £5 million.
	The MHS was dissolved and merged with the FSA to create a more effective and efficient FSA Operations Group in April 2010. This is expected to save more than £2 million per year ongoing.

Food Standards Agency

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many food incidents were dealt with by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many food incidents were dealt with by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The number of food incidents dealt with by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of incidents 
			 2005 966 
			 2006 1,343 
			 2007 1,312 
			 2008 1,398 
			 2009 1,208 
		
	
	Further details of incidents dealt with by the agency over the last five years can be obtained from the "Annual Report of Incidents", which is available from the agency's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/incidents/monitorprevent/reportsreviews/

Food Standards Agency

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance the Food Standards Agency provides to local authority food safety enforcement work.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Food Standards Agency gives to local authority food safety enforcement work.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) provides grant funding to local authorities (LAs) to assist targeted food safety enforcement work. This includes the imported food and feed sampling programmes; the "fighting fund" to assist LAs in their work tackling significant food fraud; funding for LAs for preparatory work necessary for the successful local launch of the national "Food Hygiene Rating Scheme" (FHRS); and funding for Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) to support small caterers and retailers to comply with the requirement for a food safety management system.
	The FSA assists LAs through delivery of training to enforcement officers to update their knowledge and skills and to facilitate consistent enforcement. This includes training courses for the implementation of SFBB; for LAs adopting the FHRS; for enforcement officers dealing with food fraud investigations; for imported food law enforcement; auditing of food safety management systems in food premises; and food and feed standards enforcement.
	The FSA also provides assistance to LAs in the form of guidance and advice on food law enforcement and a number of online resources. Additional assistance is available to LAs from the Food Fraud Advisory Unit that provides an advisory resource for LAs carrying out investigations into food fraud.

Food Standards Agency

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the location is of each Food Standards Agency office in the UK; and how many staff work at each office;
	(2)  what proportion of the staff of the Food Standards Agency take part in front-line food safety operations.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  at what locations staff of the Food Standards Agency are employed;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of staff of the Food Standards Agency are involved in front-line food safety operations.

Anne Milton: For the financial year 2009-10, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) employed 1,741 staff, including staff working for the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), an executive agency of the FSA, which was integrated into the FSA in April 2010. 814 of the staff worked in front-line food safety operations, this equating to 46.8% of the total staff employed by the FSA. The front-line staff predominantly carry out food safety inspections and enforcement in approved meat premises.
	The average number of staff located at each FSA office, including those based at the time MHS office in York, was as follows:
	
		
			  2009-10 
			  FSA office  Average number of staff 
			 London 625 
			 Aberdeen 75 
			 Cardiff 35 
			 Belfast 38 
			 York 154

Food Standards Agency

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of scientific evidence by the Food Standards Agency in formulating policy on  (a) food safety and  (b) nutrition.

Anne Milton: The Department has not assessed the use of science by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in developing policy but recognise that science is at the core of the agency's business. The Government's chief scientific adviser has assessed the use of science by the FSA, and in a review published in April 2009, considered the agency's use of science to be good and that it has come to decisions which are largely supported by the scientific community. The review also felt that further improvements could be made.

Food Standards Agency

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adopt for his Department the practice of the Food Standards Agency to make all policy decisions in meetings open to the public.

Anne Milton: The Department does not have the same status as the Food Standards Agency (FSA). We do not hold board meetings in the way that the FSA does as a non-ministerial government department.

Food Standards Agency

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of the Food Standards Agency is on the voluntary approach to improving the nutritional benefit of processed foods.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) promotes the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet. Processed foods can form part of a healthy balanced diet and it is the overall balance of the diet which is more important than the nutrient content of individual foods. A varied diet containing relatively low levels of salt and saturated fat, which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables and starchy foods, should provide all the nutrients that a healthy individual requires.
	The FSA has been working with the food industry to voluntarily encourage reformulation of products to reduce the levels of salt, saturated fat, sugar and portion size providing consumers with a wide range of healthier options.

Food Standards Agency

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which functions of the Food Standards Agency he plans to transfer to  (a) the Department of Health,  (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and  (c) another Government Department or agency.

Anne Milton: I refer the right hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 July 2010,  Official Report, column 12WS.

Food: Advertising

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on the marketing, advertising and promotion of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in non-broadcast media.

Anne Milton: None.

Food: Labelling

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 704W, on food labelling, what steps he plans to take to encourage industry to voluntarily declare the trans fat content of food products.

Anne Milton: Voluntary action by the food industry to reformulate food products and remove hydrogenated vegetable oils and fats from foods is reducing average dietary intake of trans fatty acids. The Government will support provisions in the proposed food labelling legislation currently under negotiation in Europe which would allow industry to voluntarily label their products to reflect their efforts in reducing trans fat content.

General Practitioners

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 12 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 661-63, on the NHS White Paper, what conditions there will be on borrowing by GP consortia.

Simon Burns: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" published on 12 July 2010, has set out our proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision-making to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices.
	"Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients" published on 22 July sets out further information on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning, providing the basis for fuller engagement with primary care professionals and the public. The details of the financial regime will be worked up as part of the consultation process.

General Practitioners

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of doctors working in GP practices in England are partners in the practice where they work.  [Official Report, 20 January 2011, Vol. 521, c. 10MC.]

Simon Burns: As at 30 September 2009, there were 35,719 general practitioners (GPs) (excluding GP registrars and retainers) in England. Of these, 28,607 (79.6%) were partners in the practice they worked in.

General Practitioners

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will have responsibility for ensuring the  (a) comprehensive provision and  (b) consistency of standards of mental health services under his proposals to transfer responsibility for NHS commissioning to GPs.

Paul Burstow: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July, sets out our intention to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices. To support GP consortia in their commissioning decisions, we will also create an independent NHS Commissioning Board.
	"Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients" published on 22 July provides further information on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning and the role of the NHS Commissioning Board. GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the majority of NHS services, including mental health, for patients. However, with the local authority also taking a convening role, leading the joint strategic needs assessment and promoting joined up commissioning, this will provide the opportunity for local areas to further integrate mental health services.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will provide a framework to support GP consortia in commissioning services, including setting commissioning guidelines on the basis of clinically approved quality standards developed with advice from NICE. The board will also be responsible for holding consortia to account for the outcomes they achieve as commissioners.

General Practitioners

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has estimated the number of GPs presently engaged in direct care of patients who will be required to work full-time on the delivery of his proposed new consortia for commissioning; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" sets out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices.
	"Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients" published on 22 July, provides further details on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning, providing the basis for fuller consultation and engagement with primary care professionals, patients and the public.
	Under the proposed model not all GPs have to be actively involved in every aspect of commissioning. Their predominant focus will continue to be on providing high-quality primary care to their patients. It is likely to be a smaller group of primary care practitioners who will lead the consortium and play an active role in the clinical design of local services.
	GP consortia will have the freedom to decide what commissioning activities they undertake for themselves and for what activities (such as demographic analysis, contract negotiation, performance monitoring and aspects of financial management) they may choose to buy in support from external organisations, including local authorities, private and voluntary sector bodies.

Health Services: Standards

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 408W, on NHS standards, for what reason there are no plans to publish the world-class commissioning datasets nationally.

Simon Burns: The data used in the world class commissioning assurance process was drawn from existing sources. There are no plans to bring these sources together for national publication.
	The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July 2010, has also set out our proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision making to local consortia of general practitioner practices.

Health Services: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the implications are for Wales of the proposals relating to non-devolved health-care matters contained in the NHS White Paper.

Simon Burns: The NHS White Paper "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS" applies only to the national health service in England.
	Devolved Administrations and the Wales Office/Scotland Office/Northern Ireland Office are being consulted where the policies in the Bill have incidental or consequential implications for the devolved areas (for example, changes to arm's length bodies with remits which extend beyond England).

Hearing Impairment

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase public awareness of hearing damage arising from listening to  (a) music at live events and  (b) personal audio and other media devices.

Paul Burstow: The Department, advised by the Health Protection Agency, keeps under review the risks to health which may be attributed to various kinds of noise. We have no plans at present for an information campaign on the risks to the hearing posed by the use of personal music players but I will ask officials to talk to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to explore options.

Hospitals: Admissions

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many hospitalisations involving gun wounds there were in  (a) the London borough of Lambeth,  (b) London and  (c) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 so far;
	(2)  how many hospitalisations involving knife wounds there were in  (a) the London borough of Lambeth,  (b) London and  (c) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 so far;
	(3)  how many hospitalisations of individuals living in Streatham constituency involving knife wounds  (a) there were in each year from 2005 to 2009 and  (b) there have been in 2010;
	(4)  how many hospitalisations of individuals living in Streatham constituency involving gun wounds  (a) there were in each year from 2005 to 2009 and  (b) there have been in 2010.

Anne Milton: The number of finished admission episodes where the external cause codes were knife wound and gunshot wound have been provided. This information has been broken down by England, London SHA and Lambeth primary care trust of residence, 2005-06 to 2008-09 and 2009-10 April to February provisional data. We have provided you with data for assaults as well as other hospitalisations by knife and gun wound (see clinical codes footnote for clarification of ICD-10 external cause codes used).
	We are unable to provide data on hospitalisation in the London borough of Lambeth or for individuals living in Streatham constituency area as we do not hold information at these geographic levels.
	
		
			  Number of finished admission episodes( 1)  where the external cause code was knife wound or gunshot wound( 2) , in England, London SHA and Lambeth PCT of residence( 3) , 2005-06 to 2008-09 and 2009-10 April to February provisional data( 4) , activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  England 
			   Knife wound (assault)  Gun wound (assault)  Knife wound (other)  Gun wound (other) 
			 2009-10 (April to February)(4)  4,303  199  11,884  826 
			 2008-09 4,914 199 12,381 921 
			 2007-08 5,239 222 11,899 959 
			 2006-07 5,720 229 11,513 1,086 
			 2005-06 5,496 225 11,052 1,008 
		
	
	
		
			  London SHA( 5) 
			   Knife wound (assault)  Gun wound (assault)  Knife wound (other)  Gun wound (other) 
			 2009-10 (April to February)(4)  1,099  77  1,467  144 
			 2008-09 1,050 54 1,381 137 
			 2007-08 1,267 64 1,447 146 
			 2006-07 1,395 52 1,417 157 
			 2005-06 1,381 76 1,380 178 
		
	
	
		
			  Lambeth PCT( 5) 
			   Knife wound (assault)  Gun wound (assault)  Knife wound (other)  Gun wound (other) 
			 2009-10 (April to February)(4)  70  8  56  18 
			 2008-09 58 6 31 9 
			 2007-08 86 * 49 13 
			 2006-07 85 7 60 15 
			 2005-06 67 11 52 12 
			 ( 1)  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. ( 2)  Cause code A supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode is counted in HES. Codes in italics are those used to define assault.  Knife wound: W26 Contact with knife, sword or dagger X78 Intentional self-harm by sharp object X99 Assault by sharp object Y28 Contact with sharp object, undetermined intent The above four codes identifies 'any' sharp object, and therefore includes (but is not limited to) knife.  Gunshot wounds: W32 Handgun discharge W33 Rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge W34 Discharge from other and unspecified firearms X72 Intentional self-harm by handgun discharge X73 Intentional self-harm by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge X74 Intentional self-harm by other and unspecified firearm discharge X93 Assault by handgun discharge X94 Assault by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge X95 Assault by other and unspecified firearm discharge Y22 Handgun discharge, undetermined intent Y23 Rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge, undetermined intent Y24 Other and unspecified firearm discharge, undetermined intent Y35.0 Legal intervention involving firearm discharge ( 3)  SHA/PCT of residence The strategic health authority (SHA) or primary care trust (PCT) containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. ( 4)  Provisional data The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. ( 5)  NHS Re-organisation In July 2006, the NHS reorganised strategic health authorities (SHA) and primary care trusts (PCT) in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result, data from 2006-07 onwards is not directly comparable with previous years. We mapped the current London SHA to the following SHAs prior to 2006-07: North Central London, North East London, North West London, South East London and South West London. Lambeth PCT remained the same during the PCT changes.  Data quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Small numbers To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with "*" (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify numbers from the total, an additional number (the next smallest) has been replaced.  Activity included Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Hospitals: Admissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff time at accident and emergency departments in each strategic health authority area spent on treating victims of domestic violence; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of such activity in each of the last 10 years.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect this information centrally; with no estimate being made on the proportion of staff time spent or the cost of accident and emergency departments treating victims of domestic violence.
	The way in which the national health service manages the treatment of its patients, including victims of domestic violence, is a local operational matter. What is important is that high-quality urgent and emergency care services are provided that are both clinically appropriate and responsive to the needs of the patient.

IVF

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has for the future level of provision of IVF treatment by the NHS under his proposals for changes to the structure of the NHS;
	(2)  what plans he has for the determination of criteria for the provision of IVF treatment by the NHS under his proposals for changes to the structure of the NHS;
	(3)  how many patients have received NHS funding for IVF and IUI treatment in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley area in each of the last five years; and how many of those patients received funding for more than one course of treatment.

Anne Milton: It is for local commissioners, currently primary care trusts, to determine how best to meet the health needs of their local population. In respect of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other fertility treatments and services, there are no plans to move away from local determination in the future.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for the national health service on treatments that should be funded. The NICE fertility guidelines recommend that women aged between 23 and 39, if they fulfil the criteria, should be offered three cycles of IVF treatment funded by the NHS. NICE has just commenced a review of these guidelines and it is intended that the review will be completed in October 2012.
	In June 2009, the Department published a commissioning aid to help the NHS to assess need locally for fertility treatment, learn about infertility treatment techniques and monitor uptake of services. The Department also supported the patient interest group, Infertility Network UK, to develop standardised access criteria as a guide for those commissioning NHS fertility services.
	Information is not collected centrally on the number of patients who have received NHS funded fertility treatments in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley areas.

Kidney Patients

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many kidney disease patients are receiving home dialysis in  (a) England and  (b) South Swindon;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) home and  (b) hospital dialysis for kidney disease patients in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The average annual cost of hospital haemodialysis, calculated from reference costs published in July 2009, is £28,860, peritoneal dialysis £20,805 and home haemodialysis £17,264. This assumes that people on home haemodialysis receive four sessions of dialysis per week compared with thrice weekly dialysis in hospital.
	Information about the number of kidney disease patients who are receiving home dialysis is not available in the format requested. Data collected by the UK Renal Registry show that in December 2008 there were 3,564 people in England on peritoneal dialysis at home and 441 people in England on home haemodialysis. In the Swindon primary care trust area there were 19 people on peritoneal dialysis and one person on home haemodialysis.

Maternity Services: Standards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve standards of post-natal care.

Anne Milton: The Department has supported four royal colleges (the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Royal College of Anaesthetists) to develop a single integrated set of clinical standards covering the care pathway from pre-pregnancy to parenthood (June 2008). This gives the commissioners specific standards to use to negotiate service provision and helps to ensure the development of high quality maternity care, including post-natal care.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published clinical guidelines on post-natal care which sets out the core care that women and babies should be offered during the first six to eight weeks after the birth. Every mother and baby will have an individual plan of care which may include additional care to that in the core guidance.
	The Government aim to offer a better experience for women and their partners, with more scope to them to exercise choice across wider range of settings and services and with wider options through the crucial ante and post-natal periods. The Government are working to provide a real choice in maternity services, enabling women-centred care, and an experience that is as normal as possible and provides parents with confidence about the transition to parenthood.
	White Paper 'Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS' sets out Government's strategy for the national health service-with intention to create an NHS which is much more responsive to patients, achieves better outcomes with increased autonomy and clear accountability at every level. With regard to maternity Government will extend maternity choice (although recognising that not all choices will be appropriate or safe for all women) and help make safe, informed choices throughout pregnancy and childbirth by developing new provider networks.
	We recognise the important role that health visitors can play in the early years and announced in the coalition agreement that we will fund an extra 4,200 Sure Start health visitors. Health visitors provide the link between Sure Start children's centres and the NHS. They will need to work across general practice and children's centres, working closely with maternity services and other agencies concerned with children and families.

Medical Records: Databases

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010,  Official Report, column 481W, on NHS: databases, if he will collect data on the number of occasions on which information relating to a patient has been requested by a doctor other than the doctor with whom the patient is registered as part of the summary care records scheme.

Simon Burns: We have no current plans to do so.

Medical Records: Databases

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he took into account in his assessment of the need for a centralised summary care records database.

Simon Burns: We believe there is a need for both patients and clinicians to be able to access patient records in an electronic form. This is part of our thinking about making information transparent and available, while involving patients in decisions about their health care. The experience in Scotland, which has had an electronic summary similar to the summary care record (SCR) operating for a number of years, shows the continuing benefits it provides to patients receiving emergency and out-of-hours care.
	However, effective use of the SCR depends on patients and doctors feeling an ownership of the records. We believe the current processes that are in place need to be reviewed to ensure that both the information that patients receive, and the process by which they opt-out, are as clear and simple as possible. In addition, should patients choose to optout they must be able to do so as early in the process as is feasible. Foremost in our minds is the need to ensure the security of the data contained in the record.
	We intend to review the content of the record and consider whether we can improve the process whereby patients can optout. Strategic health authorities have been informed that no further information letters should be sent out to patients about the SCR until after the review has concluded.

Mental Health Services

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his proposals to increase provision for psychological therapies will include therapies for people affected by severe mental illness; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Government set out in "The Coalition: our programme for government" a commitment to ensure greater access to talking therapies to reduce long-term costs for the national health service. This is a clear public health priority for us and we are currently working to identify how best to take it forward.
	Revised National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on schizophrenia was published in March 2009. This outlines the best way to treat and manage adults with schizophrenia in primary and secondary care. The guidance recommends that treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy should be offered to all people with schizophrenia.
	Psychological therapies can be a key element of the treatment of people with severe and enduring mental health conditions, particularly when these conditions are experienced alongside depression and anxiety disorders. In these cases, the delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy and other NICE-compliant therapies is the recommended treatment.
	Services for these clients are largely provided by psychology departments in specialist mental health trusts. The implementation of Improving access to Psychological Therapies services for people in community settings with mild to moderate conditions can reduce the number of referrals to specialist mental health trusts and enable them to focus on providing services to those with severe and enduring mental illness.
	General practitioners or consultant psychiatrists can prescribe any medicine or treatment which they consider to be necessary for treating NHS patients, including NICE-approved treatments, provided that the local primary care trust or NHS trust agree to supply it on the NHS. Clinicians are responsible for deciding on the most appropriate form of treatment for their patients, and in doing so they are expected to take NICE guidance fully into account. The Department does not become involved in making clinical decisions.

Muscular Dystrophy

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will assess the effects of implementing the recommendations set out in International Standards of Care for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy on NHS patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy;
	(2)  what steps his Department takes to ensure the provision of care to  (a) children and  (b) young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such provision; what information his Department for benchmarking purposes holds on the provision of such services in Denmark; and if he will publish a national framework on standards of care provision for those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of health and care professionals, working in conjunction with patients and their families, to arrange the most appropriate health and social care for those living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The National Service Framework for long-term conditions (the NSF) provides an overview how this care should be provided. The 11 quality requirements of the NSF are compatible with more condition specific standards of care, such as the international TREAT-NMD recommendations for DMD. We have made no assessment of the effectiveness of the provision of care for those with DMD.
	We have no plans to publish a national strategy for the care of DMD. The NSF's quality requirements apply equally to DMD as they do for any other neuromuscular condition. The NSF covers all aspects of care from assessment, through diagnosis, information/education, treatment and support, to end of life decisions and palliative care. We have no plans to assess the effects of implementing the recommendations set out in international standards of care for those living with DMD.

Muscular Dystrophy

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to provide ring-fenced funding for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy to the MDEX consortium.

Paul Burstow: The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council (MRC) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Both organisations welcome applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals submitted.
	The researchers who lead the consortium have received funding from the Department and the MRC. They are aware of the public funding routes open to them and how to apply for support for any proposals for further research.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether interested parties will be included in the process to produce interventional procedures guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence;
	(2)  what mechanism is in place for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop guidance on interventional procedures.

Simon Burns: The information requested can be found in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) interventional procedures methods and process guides, which are available on the NICE website at:
	 Methods guide:
	www.nice.org.uk/media/70C/85/IPMethodGuideforweb180607.pdf
	 Process guide:
	www.nice.org.uk/media/1E0/17/IPProgrammeProcessGuideJan09.pdf

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on how many interventional procedures the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have published guidance as a  (a) novel and  (b) reviewed procedure;
	(2)  how many times guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on interventional procedures has been challenged by resolution requests to date;
	(3)  what percentage of resolution requests from the development of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) interventional procedures guidance have asked NICE for a complete reassessment of the procedure;
	(4)  whether a mechanism is in place for the peer review of overview documents produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence intellectual property programme teams;
	(5)  how much time on average members of the Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee spent on analysing the overview document prior to drafting provisional recommendations in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not held by the Department. I have asked the chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to write to the hon. Member with this information.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  by what mechanisms draft guidance already published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Medical Technology Advisory Committee will be amended to take into account the consultation on process and methods guides for the evaluation pathway due to end on 10 September 2010;
	(2)  whether his Department had discussions with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the Medical Technology Advisory Committee's publication of draft guidance before the consultation on process and methods guides for the evaluation pathway has been completed.

Simon Burns: The operation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) Medical Technology Advisory Committee, its draft medical technologies guidance and its consultation on its methods and processes guides, are matters for NICE.
	The Department understands that the draft medical technologies guidance currently out for public consultation will be revised by NICE in light of comments received.
	The final methods and processes guides will be finalised following a separate consultation, which is also currently taking place.
	If any major inconsistencies were to emerge as a result of these two consultation exercises, NICE has the option to review the draft medical technologies guidance. NICE'S board will be responsible for the final sign-off of the methods and processes guides and is ultimately responsible for signing off medical technologies guidance.

NHS Commissioning Board

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the selection process will be for the members of the NHS Commissioning Board.

Simon Burns: We intend to introduce legislation to establish the NHS Commissioning Board later this year. The Health Bill will set out further details about the membership of the Board and the process for making appointments.

NHS Foundation Trusts: Membership

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether foundation trust board members may be appointed on an unpaid basis; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Under schedule 7, paragraph 18 of the National Health Service Act 2006 it is for each NHS foundation trust (NHSFT) to determine the remuneration for each of the members of its board of directors, both executive and non-executive. Therefore it may be the case that an NHSFT may agree to appoint an unpaid director.

NHS: Essex

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the salary bill for  (a) administrative staff and  (b) managers in each NHS trust in Essex was in each year since 1997; and what proportion of the total salary bill in each trust that figure represents.

Anne Milton: This information has been placed in the Library. The Department holds accounts information at organisation level for seven years, therefore 2002-03 is the earliest period for which figures are available.

NHS: Essex

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the debt of each NHS trust in Essex is.

Anne Milton: Information on the total amount owed by national health service trusts in Essex in respect of bank overdrafts, current and long-term loans, obligations under finance leases and private finance initiative (PFI) arrangements, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS trust  Debt as at 31 March 2008-09 (£000) 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 8,040 
			 Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 8,208 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust(1) - 
			 (1) Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust became a foundation trust on 1 May 2008, consequently any debt held by the trust will be reported in the accounts of the new foundation trust.  Note: 'Debt' can be interpreted in a number of ways in relation to the finances of NHS trusts. We have interpreted 'debt' to mean the total amount reported by each NHS trust in their balance sheet in respect of bank overdrafts, loans, finance leases and PFI arrangements. These are the items most readily identified with the term 'debt' in accounting terminology.  Source: NHS Trust audited summarisation schedules 2008-09.

NHS: Essex

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what administrative and management costs each NHS trust in Essex incurred in each year since 1997; and what proportion of each trust's total expenditure on such costs this figure represents.

Anne Milton: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The Department holds accounts information at organisation level for seven years, therefore 2002-03 is the earliest period for which figures are available.

NHS: Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to achieve the proposed £20 billion efficiency savings in the NHS.

Simon Burns: "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" (Cm 7881) set out our commitment of releasing up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014, which will be reinvested to support improvements in quality and outcomes. The Department is working with national health service organisations through the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention initiative to identify how efficiencies can be driven and services redesigned to achieve the twin aims of improved quality and efficiency.
	In order to divert more resources to the front-line, NHS management costs will be reduced by more than 45%. The costs of bureaucracy will be further reduced by radically reducing the NHS functions of the Department and reducing the number of its arm's length bodies by at least one third.
	Work has also started on implementing efficiency improvements in front-line care, for example by improving care for stroke patients, the 'productive ward' programme, increased self-care and the use of new technologies for people with long-term conditions.

NHS: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 12 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 661-63, on the NHS White Paper, what plans he has for the debt held by  (a) strategic health authorities and  (b) primary care trusts.

Simon Burns: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" published on 12 July 2010, has set out the Government's proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision making to local consortia of general practitioner practices. "Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients", published on 22 July, provides further information on the intended arrangements; and the details of the financial regime will be worked up in light of the consultation process.

NHS: Public Sector

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he took in formulating his proposals to change NHS commissioning of the likely effects on the prospects for delivery of the Total Place programme of the implementation of those proposals.

Simon Burns: On 22 July the Government published two documents: 'Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for Patients', and 'Liberating the NHS: Local Democratic Legitimacy in Health', setting out our proposals in more detail. These will provide the basis for fuller consultation and engagement with primary care professionals, including general practitioners (GPs), patients and the public. We will then bring forward legislation in the forthcoming Health Bill.
	We anticipate that local authorities will have a lead role in determining the strategy and allocation of any local application of Total Place concepts under the new arrangements.
	Working alongside other partners, in particular GPs, local authorities will have a new role contributing to effective joint action to promote the health and well-being of local communities.
	In addition to taking these steps to ensure that integrated working is at the heart of a local service delivery, the Government will work with the Local Government Association to understand the potential benefits of place-based budgets through the spending review period.

Nutrition: Pregnant Women

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department has received advice from the Government chief scientific adviser on the effect on lifetime mental and physical health of maternal nutrition in the last 12 months;
	(2)  whether his Department has received advice from the Government chief scientific adviser on the effect on lifetime mental and physical health of maternal nutrition in the last 12 months.

Anne Milton: The Department has not received advice from the Government chief scientific adviser on the effect on lifetime mental and physical health of maternal nutrition in the last 12 months.

Nutrition: Pregnant Women

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the adequacy of out-of-work benefits in providing for a healthy diet for women  (a) before and  (b) during pregnancy.

Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health regularly meets with his ministerial colleagues to discuss a variety of issues.
	The Department has an existing statutory scheme, Healthy Start, that offers a means-tested nutritional safety net to pregnant women and very young children in very low-income unemployed families in a way that encourages breastfeeding and healthy eating. Healthy Start provides vouchers that can be put towards the cost of milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and infant formula milk at any participating retailer. Babies supported by the scheme get two £3.10 vouchers per week, and pregnant women and other children under four get one £3.10 voucher a week.

Palliative Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the quality of palliative care in England.

Paul Burstow: The Department is due to publish the second end-of-life care Strategy annual report from Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for end-of-life care. The report will acknowledge the progress made to date since publication of the strategy in 2008 as well as highlighting the challenges ahead to help improve end-of-life care for all adults in England.

Pregnancy: Death

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged  (a) 14 to 16,  (b) 17 to 21,  (c) 22 to 24,  (d) 25 to 30,  (e) 31 to 35 and  (f) 36 to 40 years old died from pregnancy-related diseases in each year since 1980.

Anne Milton: This information is not available centrally in the form requested. The following table sets out registered deaths in the United Kingdom with the underlying cause classified as maternal deaths.
	
		
			  Registered deaths with underlying cause given as a maternal death (ICD9 630-676, ICD10 O00-099) 
			  Triennium  Number 
			 1985 to 1987 174 
			 1988 to 1990 171 
			 1991 to 1993 150 
			 1994 to 1996 158 
			 1997 to 1999 128 
			 2000 to 2002 136 
			 2003 to 2005 149 
			 2006 to 2008 155 
			  Note: The figures were produced by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) in its triennial publication 'Saving Mothers Lives' (previously known as 'Why Mothers Die'). The conditions included ICD9 630-679 and ICD10 O00-099, codes which are "complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium".  Source: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plan to make changes to the criteria for eligibility for free prescriptions following the report from Professor Gilmore; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Decisions on any future changes to the system of prescription charges and exemptions in England would need to be taken in the context of the next spending review, which is due to report in the autumn. In the meantime, there are no plans to make any changes to the current list of conditions which are exempt from prescription charges.

Primary Care Trusts

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will have responsibility for  (a) strategic planning in the NHS and  (b) reducing health inequalities under his proposals to end primary care trusts.

Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July, set out the Government's plans for devolving power and responsibility for commissioning national health service services. The majority of NHS services will be commissioned in future by local general practitioners' (GP) consortia, which will be held to account by an independent NHS Commissioning Board.
	Strategic planning will take place at a number of levels. The White Paper states that the Secretary of State will maintain responsibility for setting the legislative and policy framework, including developing and publishing national service strategies that will enable the roles of NHS, public health and social care services to be better co-ordinated. The NHS Commissioning Board will develop commissioning guidelines which promote joint working across health, public health and social care, to support GP consortia in commissioning services locally.
	Local authorities will lead the joint strategic needs assessment locally, to ensure coherent and co-ordinated commissioning strategies, working together with commissioners of NHS services. Groups of GP consortia will have the freedom to pool their resources to fund services for their collective populations, and to commission in partnership with local authorities to meet common objectives.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will have a duty to promote equality and tackle inequalities in health-care access and outcomes. GP consortia will also have a duty to promote equality. The new public health service will also have an important role through the ring-fenced public health budget, to include a new "health premium" designed to promote action to improve population-wide health and reduce health inequalities.

Self-harm

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that the websites of  (a) his Department and  (b) NHS Direct include accessible, accurate and user-friendly information for (i) service users, (ii) carers, (iii) family members and (iv) professionals on the (A) signs and symptoms of those who exhibit evidence of self-harm and (B) signs of risk of self-harm in the future; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that the websites of  (a) his Department and  (b) NHS Direct include accessible, accurate and user-friendly information for (i) service users, (ii) carers, (iii) family members and (iv) professionals on the (A) signs and (B) prevention of suicide; and if he will make a statement;

Paul Burstow: All information available on:
	www.dh.gov.uk
	meets with the requirements for accessibility set by the Central Office of Information. All public sector websites must conform to these guidelines from the point of publication. More information on this is available at:
	http://coi.gov.uk/guidance.php?page=131
	The advice that NHS Direct provides through its web and telephone services complies with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on suicide and self-harm. NHS Direct involves patient groups, service users, health care professionals and third sector organisations such as the Princess Trust for Carers in the development and regular review of its services. Also, all front-line NHS Direct staff are also trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of depression, self harm and suicide.
	NHS Choices:
	www.nhs.uk
	dedicates significant sections of the website to providing citizens with information on both suicide and self-harm. All information is presented with accessibility in mind and is national health service accredited as evidence based.

Streptococcus: Babies

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to prevent group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies.

Anne Milton: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has a Green-top guideline, Prevention of Early onset Group B Streptococcal Disease, which provides guidance for obstetricians midwives and neonatologists on the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. RCOG also produced parallel patient information, Preventing GBS infection in newborn babies (information for you), for women and their families who are expecting a baby or are planning to get pregnant. Advice from that guidance features on the NHS Choices website and in the pregnancy book, currently given out to all pregnant women in England.

Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who have presented at hospital accident and emergency departments having attempted suicide and who have been able to access clinically trained psychiatric staff at the accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what mechanism is in place to ensure that the risk assessment of those who present at hospital accident and emergency departments as a result of attempted suicide is  (a) evidence-based and  (b) clinically approved; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what mechanism is in place to ensure that the risk assessment of those who present at hospital accident and emergency departments as a result of self-harm is  (a) evidence-based and  (b) clinically approved; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The National Health Service Information Centre for health and social care's current mandated method of capturing treatments or investigations during an accident and emergency (A&E) attendance is the use of the code list stored in the Accident and Emergency Attendance Commissioning Dataset. This is a list of numbers associated to a particular treatment or investigation. Diagnosis, investigation, and treatment data in A&E is not sufficiently complete to perform analysis yet.
	Primary care trusts have a responsibility to ensure that appropriate services are provided to their populations, including mental health services. Providing appropriate resources to meet local demand and ensuring that risk assessments are made of those who present at A&E as a result of self-harm or suicide attempts is therefore a matter for the NHS to manage locally.
	Clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with people who self-harm or attempt suicide in any setting should be provided with appropriate training to equip them to understand and care for people who have self-harmed or attempted suicide.
	The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on self-harm covers:
	the care people who harm themselves can expect to receive from health care professionals in hospital and out of hospital;
	the information they can expect to receive;
	what they can expect from treatment; and
	what kinds of services best help people who harm themselves.
	These guidelines are issued to clinical staff.

Swine Flu

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the decision to implement a mass vaccination policy to protect against influenza A(H1N1);
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the proportionality of the measures taken by his Department in response to the perceived level of risks from influenza A(H1N1);
	(3)  what steps he plans to take to increase levels of public understanding about the characteristics of pandemics;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's communications with the public and the press on the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic.

Anne Milton: I understand that the decision to implement a mass vaccination strategy was taken in accordance with the best available scientific advice provided by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
	The four nations commissioned an independent review into the United Kingdom response to the 2009 influenza pandemic, chaired by Dame Deidre Hine, which issued its report on 1 July 2010. Dame Deirdre concluded that the preparations for a pandemic were "soundly based in terms of value for money" and the response to swine flu was "proportionate and effective". This publication can be found at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ukresilience/ccs/news/100701-flu-pandemic-review.aspx
	Dame Deidre also reviewed the effectiveness of the Government's communications and concluded that there was
	"strong evidence that the government's communication strategy was successful in building public awareness of pandemic influenza".
	It did however recommend that we explore increasing public awareness of the characteristics of a pandemic.
	The Department and Cabinet Office are currently reviewing the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic (2007), and the Government will take these recommendations into consideration in planning for the future to ensure that we remain one of the best prepared countries in the world for any future pandemic.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Advanced Manufacturing Park

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who will have responsibility for the funding of the Advanced Manufacturing Park after the abolition of Yorkshire Forward.

Mark Prisk: The future of Yorkshire Forward's stake in the Advanced Manufacturing Park will be considered alongside other RDA commitments and assets as part of a transition plan leading up to the RDA's abolition. The forthcoming spending review will inform future funding allocations.

Agriculture: Research

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research projects on  (a) soil science,  (b) traditional plant breeding,  (c) crop agronomy,  (d) plant physiology,  (e) plant pathology,  (f) environmental microbiology,  (g) weed science,  (h) entomology,  (i) crop irrigation,  (j) nitrogen fixation,  (k) soil phosphorous,  (l) soil erosion,  (m) pollinating insects and  (n) integrated pest management have been funded by (i) each research council and (ii) the Science and Technology Facilities Council since 1997; what the (A) research topic, (B) start date, (C) cost and (D) project code was of each such project; which the lead institution was in each case; and what such projects have been completed to date.

David Willetts: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has undertaken research into areas  (a) to  (n), but the cost of collating all of the information in the form requested would be disproportionate.
	The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has funded two projects on integrated pest management. Copies of the details have been placed in the Library.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) funded a project on soil science. We will place details of the project funded by the MRC in the Libraries of the House.
	The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has funded 13 projects, copies of the details have been placed in the Library. In addition NERC allocated £6 million to the Global Nitrogen Enrichment programme (GANE), funded jointly with SEERAD and the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which may have included research in this area.
	NERC has also provided funding for soil erosion via its research centre the British Geological Survey (BGS), copies of the details have been placed in the Library.
	In addition NERC has supported insect pollination via the Insect Pollinators Initiative, which is supported by BBSRC, DEFRA, the Scottish Government and the Wellcome Trust with a total budget of up to £10 million (this includes BBSRC £2.55 million, NERC £1.55 million, Scottish Government £0.55 million, Wellcome Trust £2.5 million and DEFRA £2.55 million).
	http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/2009/insect-pollinators-initiative.aspx
	The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) did not fund any projects of the type listed.

Apprentices: Employment

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he made of the proportion of former apprentices who found employment within a year of completing an apprenticeship in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hayes: An apprenticeship is a work-based programme and an apprentice must have a job or a work placement as a condition of completing their apprenticeship framework. Many will already be in permanent employment prior to the end of their apprenticeship. Management information on the subsequent employment of apprentices is not available.
	We collect information about the destinations of learners into learning and employment through the Framework for Excellence (FfE), which will provide prospective learners and employers with performance information to help inform the choices they make about learning and training. We intend to include learner destination information at provider level when we publish FfE data as official statistics later this year.

Apprentices: Per Capita Costs

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average cost to the public purse was of an apprenticeship place in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education allocate funding to the Skills Funding Agency for the provision of apprenticeships in England. Spending on 16-18 and adult apprenticeships for 2008-09 financial years is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship expenditure 2008-09-England 
			   £ million 
			 16-18 apprenticeships 630 
			 19+ apprenticeships 347 
			 Total 977 
			  Source: LSC Annual Report and Accounts for 2008-09. 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a meaningful average cost to the public purse of an apprenticeship. The public cost of delivering an apprenticeship varies significantly depending on the industry in which the apprenticeship framework is being delivered; length of stay on the programme; whether the framework is at level 2 or 3; and whether the participant is in the 16-18, 19-25 or 25+ age group.
	For example the SFA estimates that it costs £2,749 to deliver a level 2 adult apprenticeship framework in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools and £4,083 to deliver the level 3 equivalent framework. Between industries the difference in estimated costs can be more marked. SFA estimate that the cost of delivering a level 3 adult apprenticeship in clock and watch repair is £13,409 but the cost of an adult apprenticeship at the same level in business and administration is £3,327.

Business: Government Assistance

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Bedford constituency have received loans from the enterprise finance guarantee scheme in the last 12 months.

Mark Prisk: The enterprise finance guarantee came into operation in January 2009. As of 21 July 2010, in the Bedford constituency 16 businesses have drawn down loans totalling £1.22 million.

Business: Regulation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will introduce a one-in, two-out policy to reduce the number of regulations on business.

Mark Prisk: The Government are introducing a One-in, One-out rule to cap the cost of regulation to business.
	I am satisfied that the one-in, one-out rule as it currently stands will start to bring about the radical change required to the culture of regulation in Whitehall.
	While regulation is necessary to protect consumers, employees and the environment, Government should ensure that all regulation is proportionate and targeted.

Cairn Energy

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Government of Greenland on the plans of Cairn Energy or its subsidiary Capricorn Oil Limited to drill for oil off the coast of Greenland.

Mark Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Government of Greenland on this matter.

Cairn Energy

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with the chief executive of  (a) Cairn Energy and  (b) other representatives of Cairn Energy or its subsidiary Capricorn Oil Ltd on its plans to drill for oil off the coast of Greenland since July 2009; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings.

Mark Prisk: The body within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that deals with the UK oil and gas industry and its international interests is the energy team of UK Trade and Investment, which has had no discussions with Cairn Energy or Capricorn Oil Ltd on this matter in the period since July 2009.

Copyright: Music

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to bring forward proposals to extend the period for which musicians may receive royalties for their recordings.

Edward Davey: Policy responsibility for intellectual property rests with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The lengths of copyright term (which determines the period over which musicians receive royalties), are harmonised across the EU, and the Government have no plans to put forward their own proposals.

Corus: Resignations

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 522-3, what communications  (a) he and  (b) his Department has had with (i) Tata Steel Europe and (ii) Corus Europe consequent on the resignation of Kirby Adams as Chief Executive of Corus.

Mark Prisk: There has been no specific contact with Corus and Tata Steel Europe regarding the announcement that Kirby Adams will be stepping down from his role as chief executive. The Department has a constructive working relationship with Corus and Tata Steel Europe which I am sure will continue under Mr Adams' successor, Dr Karl-Ulrich Kohler when he takes up post on 1 October 2010.

Credit: Regulation

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission research into the effects of imposing a cap on the rate of interest chargeable by lenders in the pawnbroking, payday loans and home credit markets.

Edward Davey: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has recently completed a review of high cost credit products, including pawnbroking, payday loans and home collected credit. As part of this review, the OFT considered the possible introduction of price controls for high-cost credit. The review concluded that price controls would not be a suitable solution to the concerns that the OFT identified in the sector.
	I recently announced a joint BIS and HM Treasury review of consumer credit and personal insolvency and this Department will be issuing a formal call for evidence following the summer recess. Among other things, the call for evidence will give industry and consumer groups the opportunity to provide evidence on how they think the findings and recommendations of the OFT review should be taken forward, including their findings on interest rate caps.

Departmental Billing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Department does not hold any central information on the time taken by contractors (tier one suppliers) to pay their sub-contractors (tier two suppliers). However, we are working closely with tier one suppliers to ensure that tier two suppliers receive payment promptly by:
	reviewing payment performance as part of the standard contract management process;
	ensuring tier one suppliers include in the relevant contract a provision which requires the tier one supplier to pay the tier two supplier within 30 days; and
	enabling tier two suppliers to report any concerns they feel have not been adequately addressed direct to the Department or via the Office of Government Commerce's supplier feedback process.
	BIS remains committed to pay its own invoices within five working days and continues to work closely with its suppliers to ensure that the benefits are felt by all in the supply chain.

Departmental Consultants

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what budget his Department has allocated for consultancy in 2010-11.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has allocated a budget of £7,359,000 for consultancy in 2010-11.

Departmental ICT

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.

Edward Davey: The ICT expenditure for the Department can be summarised as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 1998/99 12.1 
			 1999/2000 15.0 
			 2000/01 30.0 
			 2001/02 32.0 
			 2002/03 41.0 
			 2003/04 41.9 
			 2004/05 42.2 
			 2005/06 44.0 
			 2006/07 43.4 
			 2007/08 41.1 
			 2008/09 40.0 
			 2009/10 38.9 
			  Notes: 1. No information is available for the year 1997/98.  2. Before the award of the PFI contract in 1999, central records of IT expenditure included only central corporate infrastructure.  3. There was a change in the Department's accounting system during 2003/04.  4. The information from 2004/05 to 2009/10 has been taken from the Department's annual accounts and includes UKTI.  5. There were a number of machinery of government changes from 2005 which distort direct comparisons year on year. 
		
	
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
	Information for the non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 July 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking about expenditure on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.
	Information on such expenditure prior to 2001 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Since 2001, the National Measurement Office and its predecessor, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, spent the following on information and communication technology:
	
		
			   Spend on ICT (£) 
			 2001 95,415.65 
			 2002 109,519.53 
			 2003 85,959.87 
			 2004 252,016.83 
			 2005 167,968.77 
			 2006 218,189.33 
			 2007 224,804.39 
			 2008 316,009.21 
			 2009 262,490.74 
		
	
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 13 July 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July (UIN 7330), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning spend on information and communication technology in the Department and its agencies.
	The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010. Since that date we have spent £4,718,000 on information and communication technology costs.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 8 July 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 06th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office spent the following amounts on information and communication technology.
	
		
			   £000 
			 2009/10 2,061 
			 2008/09 3,113 
			 2007/08 2,778 
			 2006/07 2,389 
			 2005/06 2,417 
			 2004/05 1,849 
			 2003/04 3,155 
			 2002/03 2,040 
			 2001/02 1,928 
			 2000/01 3,115 
			 1999/2000 3,094 
		
	
	Figures for earlier years are not available in the timescales.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 14 July 2010:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how much (a) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies has spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no accounting records on this expenditure for the years 1997 to 2003, as these records are kept for 7 years.
	The expenditure for the financial years 2003/04 to 2009/10 are shown in the table below:
	
		
			  Financial year  ICT spend (£) 
			 2003-04 6,860,581 
			 2004-05 12,033,183 
			 2005-06 11,986,483 
			 2006-07 13,611,697 
			 2007-08 20,683,042 
			 2008-09 28,072,769 
			 2009-10 25,411,213 
		
	
	 Letter from Gareth Jones:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, UIN 7330 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House's financial records do not go back as far as 1997. The amount Companies House has spent on Information and Communication Technology for each year for which figures are available are as follows:
	
		
			  Year  £ 
			 2009/10 9,702,020 
			 2008/09 9,228,630 
			 2007/08 8,567,584 
			 2006/07 6,117,779 
			 2005/06 6,605,290 
		
	
	These figures exclude capital expenditure.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997.

Edward Davey: For the Department, information for the financial years 2002/03 and earlier can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, the information for financial years 2003/04 onwards is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003/04 45,269 
			 2004/05 171,457 
			 2005/06 267,191 
			 2006/07 136,536 
			 2007/08 48,380 
			 2008/09 91,679 
			 2009/10 98,344 
			 April 2010 to June 2010 14,560 
		
	
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
	Information on the Department's non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 23 July 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 06th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	While the IPO does provide refreshments at some meetings there has been no formal hospitality spend in the period.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 16 July 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 6 July 2010, UIN 7437 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House's financial records do not go back as far as 1997. In each year for which figures are available Companies House spent the following on hospitality:
	
		
			   Hospitality (£) 
			 2002/03 1,756 
			 2003/04 1,861 
			 2004/05 1,963 
			 2005/06 2,507 
			 2006/07 2,218 
			 2007/08 2,369 
			 2008/09 1,926 
			 2009/10 1,501 
		
	
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 7 July 2010:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spent the following amounts on hospitality since 1997 as reported in The Insolvency Service Annual Report and Accounts for the relevant financial year:
	
		
			   Amount (£000) 
			 1997/98 8 
			 1998/99 11 
			 1999/2000 13 
			 2000/01 12 
			 2001/02 10 
			 2002/03 7 
			 2003/04 7 
			 2004/05 6 
			 2005/06 (1)14 
			 2006/07 4 
			 2007/08 0 
			 2008/09 9 
			 2009/10 (2)0 
			 (1) The figures for 2005/06 were restated to include the merged costs of Companies Investigation Branch. Figures from 2005/2006 onwards include both The Insolvency Service and Companies Investigation Branch. (2) Draft unaudited 
		
	
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 July 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking about expenditure on hospitality in each year since 1997.
	Information on such expenditure prior to January 2001 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The National Measurement Office and its predecessor, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory spent the following on hospitality, primarily meals and refreshments for visitors to our offices in Teddington:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2001 4,917.85 
			 2002 5,605.06 
			 2003 6,404.66 
			 2004 2,840.90 
			 2005 1,827.34 
			 2006 2,958.77 
			 2007 8,670.72 
			 2008 9,696.59 
			 2009 21,826.69 
		
	
	The substantially high figure in 2009 reflects the fact that responsibility for the National Measurement System and its extensive network of advisory groups transferred to the Agency in April of that year.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 13 July 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July (UIN 7437), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning spend on hospitality in the Department and its agencies.
	The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010. Since that date we have not spent any money on hospitality.

Departmental Public Bodies

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 July 2010,  Official Report, column 1WS, on public bodies, what estimate he has made of the cost savings arising from the abolition of each body listed in the Statement; and what assessment he has made of the effect on Wales of each such abolition.

Edward Davey: Once the closures announced by the Secretary of State on 19 July have taken place, estimated annual cost savings will be:
	
		
			  £000 
			 Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Policy (SABIP) 300 
			 SITPRO (Simplifying Internal Trade) 280 
			 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory Body (WAB) 10 
			 British Shipbuilders Corporation 13 
		
	
	All four bodies have a UK based remit. SABIP's work programme will be integrated into the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and continuing functions of the bother bodies will transfer to BIS. We do not therefore expect the closures to have any impact which is specific to Wales.

Departmental Secondment

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to increase the number of officials seconded from his Department to the EU institutions.

Edward Davey: As part of the Government's drive to enhance the UK's representation and voice in the EU institutions, work is underway to develop a more strategic approach to the use of secondments of UK civil servants to posts in the EU institutions, where UK experience and insight can add real value. We aim to ensure that these secondments are joined up across Government and appropriately targeted so that our good people are sent to strategically important positions. Short-term secondees from Government to the EU are an important source of immediate advice, and of long-term EU expertise back in Whitehall. Departments will look to help staff prepare for secondments, keep in touch while they are away and fully use their skills and experience when they get back.
	Supporting secondments is a valuable investment that can pay dividends, so it is important to ensure that UK secondees are placed in positions that matter in terms of UK priorities. Where opportunities become available in UK priority areas, then consideration will be given to providing a UK secondee.
	BIS usually has between six and 10 secondees in the institutions at any one time. Our centrally-managed EU secondment programme focuses on BIS priority areas and sending the best candidates as opposed to the total number of secondees. Another consideration is that that EU secondments vary in cost according the grade of the secondee, length of secondment and whether the institutions provide living allowances.

EU Grants and Loans

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms he proposes for the allocation of EU structural funding following the abolition of regional development agencies.

Mark Prisk: The decision on the new arrangements for regional co-ordination of English ERDF following the abolition of the Regional Development Agencies is still under consideration by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, as his Department is the Managing Authority for ERDF programmes in England. No other Structural Funds programmes are affected by the abolition.

EU Law

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the cost to British businesses of compliance with regulations arising from EU obligations in June 2010.

Mark Prisk: No estimate exists which would provide a figure for the overall cost of EU regulations to British business in June 2010. To calculate the costs would involve disproportionate expenditure.

Farepak

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish the report of the  (a) administrators and  (b) investigators in respect of the collapse of Farepak.

Edward Davey: It is assumed that the 'administrators' report' refers to the statutory disqualification return filed under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 by the administrators.
	When a company goes into administration, insolvent liquidation or administrative receivership, the responsible insolvency practitioner has a duty under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 to report confidentially, via a 'D Return', to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the conduct of the directors. This is a statutory obligation in every company and the fact that an insolvency practitioner submits a report on a company's director(s) does not necessarily mean that misconduct is alleged. However if misconduct is alleged, the Insolvency Service, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, then has a discretionary power to seek the director's disqualification where it is believed to be in the public interest.
	The administrators filed the D Returns for the Farepak group of companies in March 2007.
	D Returns are not published as part of the information contained therein is information about the conduct of directors which is personal data. Disclosure of the personal data of directors of a company would contravene the first Data Protection Principle. In addition, in some cases, prejudice to an investigation is likely to result from disclosure.
	The investigation into Farepak was conducted under section 447 of the Companies Act, and carried out by staff of Companies Investigation Branch of BIS. Information obtained under section 447 cannot be disclosed except where the statute expressly permits it and, unlike with the section 432 inspection, there is no provision for publication of reports. The report is very long and detailed. Counsel has been considering the report and supporting information. If any proceedings are initiated as a result of the report, they must remain confidential until they reach court.

Financial Services

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which organisations officials of his Department have met to discuss regulation of the debt management sector since 6 May 2010.

Edward Davey: My officials speak to a wide range of interested parties as part of conducting the business of government. However, since 6 May, those officials have not met any organisations specifically to discuss the regulation of the debt management sector.

Foreign Investment: EU Action

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the implementation of the proposals in the European Commission's Communication towards a comprehensive European international investment policy and its proposal for a regulation establishing transitional arrangements for bilateral investment agreements between Member States and third countries on the ability of the UK to negotiate and conduct bilateral investment agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The European Commission's communication 'Towards a comprehensive European international investment policy' is a non-binding document which sets out the European Commission's intentions for future international investment policy. The aims set out in the communication are positive, especially those of providing investors with legal certainty and of prioritising negotiations with the countries they list. The regulation establishing transitional arrangements for bilateral investment agreements between member states and third countries enables member states to negotiate and conclude bilateral investment agreements. The UK Government are committed to ensuring legal certainty for investors and will work with the European Union to this end.

Graduates: Employment

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he made of the proportion of graduates who found employment within a year of graduation in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: All UK and EU domiciled graduates are surveyed on their destinations, including employment circumstances six months after graduating; therefore data is available for six months after graduation, but not one year. The latest available data is for the 2008/09 cohort of graduates.
	Of the 2008/09 cohort of full-time first degree graduates, 68.4% were in employment six months after graduating, including those in a combination of work and study.
	Of those that were not employed, 17.2% were in further study only, 9.2% were assumed to be unemployed, 3.9% were not available for employment and 1.3% were classified as "other".
	 Notes:
	1. "Assumed to be unemployed" includes anyone due to start a job within the next month and not in full-time study, or anyone who is unemployed and looking for employment but not in full-time study.
	2. "Not available for employment" includes those permanently unable to work or retired, taking time out to travel, or temporarily sick or looking after family and not in study.
	3. "Other" includes those graduates who are not employed but not looking for employment, further study or training, or something else but not in further study.
	 Source:
	Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Figures used do not include graduates who do not respond to the survey, or those whose response is an explicit refusal to answer the survey.

Graduates: Public Sector

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many graduates entered employment in the public sector in each year since 2003.

David Willetts: Information on the type of employment graduates enter is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) via the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey. However, the way in which employment information is recorded does not allow for a split between public and private sector employment.
	The best estimate we can make on the proportion of graduates entering public sector employment is based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes from those who enter occupations we would expect to have high levels of public employment e.g. public administration and defence, education, and health and social work (though note that these will include some private sector employment as well). The proportion entering these professions since 2003 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of full-time first degree graduates entering employment in the UK who are employed in the public sector( 1) , 2003/04 to 2008/09 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09 
			 Number entering public sector(1) employment 45,335 46,030 44,980 46,910 51,575 50,930 
			 Proportion of graduates in UK employment in public sector(1) (%) 35.1 35.5 34.7 35.4 38.6 38.5 
			 (1) Defined as those in SIC categories: public administration and defence, education and health and social work.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five in line with HESA's publishing conventions.  Source: Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey 2003/04 to 2008/09 published by HESA.

Higher Education and Student Finance Independent Review

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance ceased to receive submissions of evidence.

David Willetts: The review's Call for Proposals was closed on 14 May. My noble Lord, Lord Browne of Madingley, who is chairing the review, has informed me that the review's Advisory Forum has continued to meet on a regular basis.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on social mobility of  (a) the number of funded places available in universities in England in 2010 and  (b) the number of university applications made through UCAS.

David Willetts: Evidence shows that there is a strong link between higher education and social mobility. Those with higher level qualifications are more likely to be in work and less likely to be unemployed than those qualified at lower levels. No assessment has been made of the effect on social mobility of the number of funded university places or applicants in England in 2010.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which 20 universities admitted the most students  (a) aged 25 years or more at the point of admission and  (b) from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The 20 higher education institutions with the highest proportion of UK-domiciled undergraduate entrants  (a) aged 25 years or over and  (b) from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are provided separately in the following tables:
	Figures are provided for the 2008/09 academic year and are taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record. Data for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from January 2011.
	
		
			  Table 1: English higher education institutions with the highest proportion of UK-domiciled undergraduate entrants( 1)  aged 25 or over, academic year 2008/09 
			  Institution  Proportion aged 25+ (%) 
			 Institute of Education 92.6 
			 Birkbeck College 81.6 
			 Open University 78.5 
			 Thames Valley University 66.6 
			 The City University 64.7 
			 University of Teesside 64.5 
			 Harper Adams University College 63.3 
			 University of Sunderland 63.3 
			 University of Bolton 61.5 
			 University of Warwick 60.6 
			 Edge Hill University 59.0 
			 Anglia Ruskin University 58.3 
			 London South Bank University 57.3 
			 Canterbury Christ Church University 56.2 
			 St Georges Hospital Medical School 56.2 
			 University Campus Suffolk 55.3 
			 Buckinghamshire New University 55.0 
			 University of Bedfordshire 52.5 
			 University of Greenwich 50.2 
			 University of Huddersfield 50.1 
			 (1) Covers entrants to full-time and part-time undergraduate courses.  Note:  Percentages are based on a HESA Standard Registration Population and are rounded to one decimal place.   Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: English higher education institutions with the highest proportion of UK-domiciled undergraduate entrants( 1 ) from minority ethnic backgrounds( 2) , academic year 2008/09 
			  Institution  Proportion from minority ethnic backgrounds (%) 
			 The School of Pharmacy 77.8 
			 Brunel University 65.8 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 64.8 
			 University of East London 64.7 
			 University of Buckingham 59.2 
			 London South Bank University 58.7 
			 Middlesex University 57.0 
			 University of Bradford 56.6 
			 Aston University 54.9 
			 University of Westminster 53.2 
			 Kingston University 52.7 
			 London Metropolitan University 52.2 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 50.2 
			 Thames Valley University 49.3 
			 St Georges Hospital Medical School 47.1 
			 The School of Oriental and African Studies 46.0 
			 Kings College London 45.6 
			 Roehampton University 45.1 
			 University of Hertfordshire 44.8 
			 The City University 43.2 
			 (1) Covers all-aged entrants to full-time and part-time undergraduate courses. (2) Minority ethnic backgrounds includes students whose ethnicity was classified as black, Asian, mixed or other. Percentages are based on students with known ethnicity and exclude those entrants whose ethnicity information was classified as unknown, refused or missing.  Note: Percentages are based on a HESA Standard Registration Population and are rounded to one decimal place.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which 20 universities admitted the most undergraduates from  (a) low-participation neighbourhoods and  (b) state schools in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The 20 higher education institutions with the highest proportion of young UK-domiciled full-time undergraduate entrants from  (a) low participation neighbourhoods and  (b) state school or college are provided in the following tables. Figures are provided for the 2008/09 academic year and are taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's Performance Indicators in Higher Education. Further information is available at the following link:
	http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/category/2/32/141/
	Performance Indicators for the 2009/10 academic year should become available from April 2011.
	
		
			  Table 1: Higher education institutions with the highest proportion of young( 1 ) UK-domiciled full-time undergraduate entrants from low participation neighbourhoods, English higher education institutions, academic year 2008/09 
			  Institution  Percentage from low participation neighbourhoods 
			 The University of Teesside 28.6 
			 The University of Sunderland 26.9 
			 Newman University College 23.9 
			 The University of Bolton 23.8 
			 Edge Hill University 22.5 
			 The University of Wolverhampton 22.3 
			 Staffordshire University 21.7 
			 The University of Salford 21.0 
			 Leeds Trinity University College(#2) 20.8 
			 University of Derby 20.7 
			 University Campus Suffolk 20.7 
			 Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln 20.2 
			 Liverpool Hope University 19.6 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 18.8 
			 Liverpool John Moores University 17.7 
			 The University of Bradford 17.6 
			 The University of Essex 17.5 
			 The University of Hull 17.4 
			 The University of Huddersfield 17.2 
			 Anglia Ruskin University 16.8 
			 Canterbury Christ Church University 16.8 
			 (1 )Refers to entrants aged under 21.  Note:  Percentages are given to one decimal place.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA): Performance indicators in higher education in the UK, 2008/09. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Higher education institutions with the highest proportion of young( 1 ) UK-domiciled full-time undergraduate entrants from state school or college, English higher education institutions, academic year 2008/09 
			  Institution  Percentage from state school or college 
			 University College Plymouth St Mark and St John 100.0 
			 The University of Bolton 99.7 
			 University College Birmingham 99.6 
			 University Campus Suffolk 99.6 
			 The University of Wolverhampton 99.5 
			 The University of Teesside 99.2 
			 University of Bedfordshire 98.9 
			 Edge Hill University 98.9 
			 Middlesex University 98.9 
			 London South Bank University 98.8 
			 Newman University College 98.7 
			 Thames Valley University 98.6 
			 The University of Huddersfield 98.4 
			 The University of East London 98.3 
			 Liverpool Hope University 98.3 
			 The University of Sunderland 98.2 
			 The University of Salford 98.1 
			 Writtle College 98.1 
			 Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln 98.0 
			 University of Cumbria 98.0 
			 The University of Greenwich 98.0 
			 Staffordshire University 98.0 
			 (1 )Refers to entrants aged under 21.  Note:  Percentages are given to one decimal place.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA): Performance indicators in higher education in the UK, 2008/09

Higher Education: Admissions

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students obtained a university place through the UCAS clearing process in each year since 2006.

David Willetts: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Entrants from all domiciles to full-time undergraduate courses at UK institutions obtaining a place through the UCAS clearing process, 2006/07 to 2009/10 
			   Number 
			 2006 38,032 
			 2007 38,858 
			 2008 43,890 
			 2009 47,673 
			  Source: UCAS.

Higher Education: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in the higher education budget on  (a) the international activities of UK universities and  (b) the contribution of such activities to UK foreign exchange earnings.

David Willetts: The Department has several bilateral education programmes with countries such as China and India and a multilateral programme involving a variety of countries. These programmes help to support the UK's educational institutions to engage internationally. They are not exclusively about higher education, although this is a major element. The programmes are funded until March 2011. Decisions on future funding will be taken in the Spending Review. The latest available estimate of the value of international higher education activity to the UK economy is £5.3 billion according to "The impact of universities on the UK", a report published by Universities UK in November 2009.

Higher Education: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2010,  Official Report, column 320W, on higher education: finance, whether he has undertaken an equality impact assessment on the proposed reduction in the university modernisation fund.

David Willetts: The Department has not undertaken an impact assessment of either the original decision to set up the University Modernisation Fund (UMF) or the decision to refocus it on the highest quality proposals. The bids made to the fund were for significantly fewer than 20,000 places and were of variable quality. It is for universities to decide who to accept for the additional 8,000 full-time and 2,000 part-time places provided by the UMF, not the Government.
	However, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) carried out a full sector impact assessment on 28 May 2010. The relevant sections on equality and diversity are reproduced here. The full document is available on the HEFCE website at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/finance/fundinghe/places/UMF_SIA.pdf
	 No.7 (of the report) Which of the various groups protected by equality legislation are likely to be affected by this policy/initiative/project, and how?
	By increasing provision in areas where there is clear evidence of demand, it will widen overall access to such courses. It will support HEIs in delivering their own equality and diversity (E&D) strategies by increasing the volume of provision they have available, especially in supporting those groups protected by equality legislation which have historically been considered to be underrepresented in the subject areas covered by the process, such as women. Analysis of current recruitment data by HEFCE has shown that the relatively small additional numbers of new entrants (10,000) will not have a significant impact on the make-up of the typical student body.
	 No. 8 (of the report) What evidence have you used to ascertain whether there will be an impact (or not) on these groups?
	In order to calculate the 10,000 new entrants, in each HEFCE-funded institution we have identified populations of fundable undergraduates who commenced a programme of study in 2008-09. The current sector profiles in respect of the E&D groups have been calculated based on these populations. Note that none of these students will be directly affected by the policy.
	Assuming that the new entrants recruited will be similar to those students recruited in 2008-09, the E&D profiles of the 10,000 new entrants have been modelled. Note that this modelling is based on proposals received and accounts for the institution, mode, level and price group of the proposed new entrants. The current E&D profiles have been compared to those of the 10,000 new entrants:
	
		
			  Equality and diversity group  Proportion of 2008-09 entrant population (percentage)  Proportion of 10,000 new Entrants population (percentage) 
			 Known to receive disabled students' allowance (DSA) 3.3 4.0 
			 Male 46.0 48.8 
			 Black minority ethnic 18.6 19.6 
			 From low participation neighbourhood 11.4 12.1 
			 Aged 21 to 25 6.5 7.6 
			 Aged 25 and over 14.7 17.8 
		
	
	 No. 9 (of the report) Which negative impacts have been identified during the development of this policy/project/initiative, and what actions have been taken to mitigate the effect?
	The impact of this initiative on the make-up of the student body is not likely to be significant: section 8 shows relatively minor differences in the proportion of the populations that each E&D group represents.
	Positive impacts might be expected among some groups, such as those known to receive DSA or from a low participation neighbourhood. Given the size of the differences, and the range of other external factors that might contribute to any variation in these proportions, negative impacts will be limited. Within the relatively short timescales demanded of this initiative, it would not be possible to mitigate these minor effects.
	 No. 10 (of the report) What actions will be taken to ensure that this policy/project/initiative promotes both equality and diversity?
	We are generally reassured that student recruitment policies are robust, but in light of our duty to promote E&D, we should take all reasonable steps to remind HEIs of their duties under the legislation.

Higher Education: Student Numbers

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of total student numbers in universities in the academic year 2011-12.

David Willetts: The coalition Government are funding 1,190,000 full-time equivalent places in 2010-11, including the 10,000 places announced as part of the University Modernisation Fund. No funding decisions have been made for 2011-12; these will take place following the Spending Review this autumn.

Institute for Learning

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Institute for Learning against its objectives.

John Hayes: The Institute for Learning (IfL) is an independent professional body set up in 2002 by teachers in FE for teachers in FE, and in partnership with unions and employer membership bodies, with the aim of raising the standards of professional practice in post-compulsory education and training in England. It is governed by a national council consisting of elected members and representation from key national stakeholders. As such it is for them, rather than BIS, to judge IfL's performance.
	IfL members said in the most recent independently conducted satisfaction survey that 92% assess IfL's benefits from "fair to excellent", with 61% saying "good or excellent".

Licensed Premises: Bankruptcy

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many licensed premises and bars in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London borough of Bexley and  (c) Greater London were declared bankrupt in each of the last five years.

Edward Davey: Official corporate insolvency statistics are not currently available broken down by geographical region. Table 1 shows the number of bars (for 2007-09) and licensed premises (for 2005-06) that were declared insolvent in the whole of England and Wales for each of the last five years.
	Statistics for personal insolvencies, including bankruptcies, are available to local authority level on The Insolvency Service website. However, sufficient detail to identify bankruptcies where the debts are primarily the result of trading, by industry and region, is not readily available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Insolvencies in England and Wales( 1) 
			   Compulsory liquidation  Creditors' voluntary liquidation  Trading-related bankruptcy orders  Receivership  Administration  Company voluntary arrangement 
			 2005 132 80 514 (2)- (2)- (2)- 
			 2006(3) 109 73 388 (2)- (2)- (2)- 
			 2007(4) 75 56 220 3 9 4 
			 2008 170 163 657 7 44 23 
			 2009 147 214 543 11 48 16 
			 (1) Number of bars (for 2007-09) and licensed premises (for 2005-06).(  2 )Not Available at this level of detail. (3) Data only available for Q1-Q3 2006 due to a change in industry classification.  (4 )Data only available for Q3-Q4 2007 due to a change in industry classification. 
		
	
	The Insolvency Trade Classification (ITC) was used to classify trading-related bankruptcies (and company liquidations) until end September 2006. More recently, the Standard Industry Classification 2003 has been in use and there have been associated changes to the method used to identify traders among bankrupts and company liquidations by industry. From September 2006 until June 2007 there is no information available by industry. The period covered should not, therefore, be treated as a consistent time series.

Loans: Regulation

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to bring forward proposals for regulation of interest rates charged by lenders on consumer finance.

Edward Davey: I recently announced a joint BIS and HM Treasury review of consumer credit and personal insolvency and this Department will be issuing a formal call for evidence following the summer recess. The review will provide a framework within which to consider coalition commitments on consumer credit such as our proposals on interest rate caps on credit and store cards.
	The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently considered the possible introduction of price controls on interest rates on products such as pawnbroking, payday loans and home collected credit as part of its review of high cost consumer finance products. The review concluded that price controls would not be a suitable solution to the concerns the OFT identified.
	Our call for evidence will give industry and consumer groups the opportunity to provide evidence on how they think the findings of the OFT review should be taken forward, including those on interest rates.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contribution he expects local economic partnerships to make to attracting inward investment.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 July 2010
	The information requested is as follows:
	"The Government has said that RDAs responsibilities for inward investment from overseas will come to the national level. There will remain a need for delivery of support at a local level to potential and existing foreign direct investors.
	UKTI is considering, in the context of the current spending review, how local knowledge and relationships will best be accessed. The Government will take into account inputs from a range of interested parties including, wherever possible, local enterprise partnerships themselves: they will have views on what they may wish or be able to contribute to the delivery process."

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 16 June 2010 on his constituent Mr Ervine Okuboh.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 12 July 2010
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills replied on 20 July 2010.

Motorsport and Aerospace

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2010,  Official Report, column 298W, on motorsport and aerospace, what steps he plans to take to put into effect the policy commitments made in the Government response to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee's Sixth Report of Session 2009-10, HC 173, Full speed ahead: maintaining UK excellence in motorsport and aerospace, Cm 7867. [R]

Mark Prisk: On 13 July, "A Strategy for Sustainable Growth" was published which will be developed further during the summer. We will be looking to ensure that our approach to specific sectors such as automotive and aerospace reflects our overall strategy. At the Farnborough International Airshow on 19 July, the Secretary of State announced that he will chair regular meetings with aerospace business leaders to focus on major strategic issues facing the aerospace sector. This will set the direction for action by a wider business/government Aerospace Growth Partnership group to be chaired by myself, involving ADS (the industry trade association) and representatives from across the UK aerospace supply chain. Together these groups will play a key role in meeting our objective of creating the conditions for growth and innovation within the aerospace sector. In developing the agenda to be addressed by these groups, we will take account of the recommendations made in the Select Committee's report.
	In addition, I have met representatives of the motorsport industry recently and discussed how best to engage with that sector. This is an ongoing process but my initial view remains that the Automotive Council is the best way for Government to engage with the motorsport industry as a whole. We will be working closely with key UK automotive companies through the Automotive Council to stimulate new technologies and build stronger supply chains.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Wirral

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision to end the North West Development Agency on projects in Wirral South which have been allocated funding by that agency in 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: The regional development agencies have been given allocations for 2010-11 and subject to the continuing affordability of their overall programme they will be seeking to deliver those grants which have been approved by their boards for this financial year.

Older Workers

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment has been made of the ability of the  (a) public,  (b) private and  (c) voluntary sector to adapt to having an older workforce; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: It is clear that people are living longer and healthier lives. Against the backdrop of this demographic change, the Government want to help and encourage people to work for longer in all sectors and to remove any unnecessary barriers to them doing so. It is the Government's view that older workers bring with them a wealth of talent and experience as employees and entrepreneurs. They have a vital contribution to make to our economic recovery and long-term prosperity. In line with the Coalition Agreement, the Government will be consulting shortly on phasing out the default retirement age and we will publish an impact assessment alongside that consultation.

One NorthEast

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much One NorthEast spent in  (a) the Tees Valley,  (b) Tyne and Wear,  (c) Northumberland and  (d) County Durham in each year since its establishment.

Mark Prisk: The Department allocates budgets to regional development agencies (RDAs). The RDAs determine how to spend their budgets, subject to the terms of the Accountability and Financial Framework and their delegated financial authorities. RDAs' investments have been guided by the Regional Economic Strategy and their corporate plans. The Department does not hold details of spending on individual projects and initiatives supported by the RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.

One NorthEast

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many employees of One NorthEast are resident in  (a) the Tees Valley and  (b) Tyne and Wear.

Mark Prisk: The Department does not hold information about the residency of employees of regional development agencies.

Overseas Trade: Kazakhstan

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade and Investment is taking to explore the potential for trade with Kazakhstan in the  (a) energy,  (b) education and  (c) financial services sector.

Mark Prisk: There are a range of opportunities for UK companies in Kazakhstan. The main areas that UK Trade & Investment is focussing on are energy, education and the financial services sector.
	In energy UK Trade & Investment is working with major international operating companies including to develop opportunities for UK supply chain companies in the oil and gas sector. Additionally through the Kazakh British Trade and Industry Council UKTI is bringing together UK expertise in the nuclear power sector to respond to opportunities for developing new power generation capability.
	In education UKTI has helped facilitate approximately 37 agreements between Kazakh colleges and UK colleges. These have helped promote awareness of UK capabilities in the vocational training sector.
	UKTI has worked with TVET UK who signed an agreement with Samruk Kazyna to supply technical skills to their new corporate university. With UKTI support, TVET UK is delivering a programme to train volunteers for the Asian Winter Games.
	The UK is working with the Small Business Federation in Kazakhstan over training for this sector. There are ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Tourism about support for their training needs.
	Through the Kazakh British Trade and Industry Council, UKTI is assisting the British Council with the establishment of stronger services in the English language sector.
	In financial services UKTI supported and facilitated the visit by the Lord Mayor of London to Kazakhstan in July 2009, which itself followed up a previous Lord Mayor's visit in 2007. As part of the follow-up to this visit, UKTI is currently working with the Law Society of England and Wales to hold an event (seminar and trade visit), with a focus on commercial arbitration and public-private partnerships (PPP), during the first half of 2011.
	UKTI is also assisting the Regional Financial Centre Almaty (RFCA) with their training needs. One college will begin to pilot foundation degrees in financial services shortly in association with the RFCA Academy, as a result of being on the Lord Mayor's visit last year.

Public Sector: Redundancy

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to introduce a programme of retraining for public sector workers made redundant as a result of reductions in departmental expenditure limits.

Edward Davey: holding answer 28 June 2010
	Each Department is responsible for developing appropriate training for their own staff. BIS offers pre-retirement courses and more general support, including CV writing and interview skills, for staff who are considering exiting the Department on voluntary or compulsory terms.

Regional Development Agencies

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what criteria were used in reaching the decision to allocate budget reductions for 2010-11 between each regional development agency; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what  (a) statistics,  (b) analysis and  (c) other evidence were used in reaching his recent decision to treat the East Midlands Development Agency in the same category as the regional development agencies in the south and east of England in deciding on reductions in its budget for 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 22 July 2010
	The recent programme budget reductions for the regional development agencies in 2010-11 were informed by the distribution of budgets agreed at the start of the comprehensive spending review (CSR) 2007. However those agencies (East of England, East Midlands, South East and South West Regional Development Agencies) whose regions have seen the greatest growth in their economy over recent years have been asked to absorb a slightly higher share of the cuts. Additionally, the administrative budget was reduced by 10% for all RDAs.

Regional Development Agencies: Lobbying

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 391W, on regional development agencies, what consultants were hired by each regional development agency to  (a) lobby and  (b) communicate with parliamentary candidates in the period up to the general election; and at what cost.

Mark Prisk: In the 12 months up to the May 2010 general election purdah period, regional development agencies responded to prospective parliamentary candidates' requests for information and meetings on RDA activity and role within the region where they were made.
	In response to part  (a) of the question no RDA has employed any consultants to lobby parliamentary candidates.
	In response to part  (b) of the question, as the hon. Member for Burton will be aware, Advantage West Midlands did approach a number of prospective parliamentary candidates before the 2010 general election to ascertain their view of regional economic development, functions carried out by regional development agencies and their thoughts on the future implementation of economic development and regeneration. This was an information gathering exercise designed to help AWM gauge local opinion as part of AWM's normal stakeholder relations process. At no time were these meetings used, or intended to be used, for lobbying on behalf of AWM. AWM engaged the services of one consultant at a cost of £850 to undertake this work.

Regional Development Agencies: Operating Costs

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the  (a) administrative and  (b) overhead costs of each regional development agency were in each year since 2005.

Mark Prisk: The information requested is available in the annual reports and accounts published by the individual RDAs and deposited annually in the Libraries of the House.

South West Regional Development Agency

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many South West Regional Development Agency staff work primarily on projects located in Cornwall;
	(2)  how many staff South West Regional Development Agency employed in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many South West Regional Development Agency staff were working primarily on projects related to Plymouth in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Prisk: I will answer these in order.
	As at 30 June 2010 315.5 FTE staff were employed by the South West RDA.
	As at 30 June 2010 40 staff (35.6 FTE) were working primarily on projects in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
	As at 30 June 2010 11 staff (11 FTE) were working primarily on projects in Plymouth.
	In addition 11 (10.4 FTE) staff deal with projects for Plymouth, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. The Agency also employs staff within its central teams who work on projects across the south west region which involve projects in Cornwall, for example Combined Universities for Cornwall and Business Link and projects in Plymouth, for example Peninsular Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy. This has the benefit of economies of scale through resource and expertise management. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of these figures. These frontline staff are supported by back-office staff in Finance, HR, IT, Corporate Affairs etc.

South West Regional Development Agency

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the South West Regional Development Agency's budget for 2009-10 was spent in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Mark Prisk: The Department allocates budgets to Regional Development Agencies. The Agencies determine which projects to support, subject to the terms of the Accountability and Financial Framework and their delegated financial authorities. RDAs' investments have been guided by the Regional Economic Strategy and their Corporate Plans. The Department does not hold details of all assistance given by RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.

Student Loans Company

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of the Student Loans Company; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Lord Browne's Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Funding is looking at all aspects of student finance. It will report in the autumn.

Student Loans Company: Darlington

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people are employed by the Student Loans Company in Darlington.

David Willetts: The SLC informs me that as at 22 July 2010, it employs 688 staff in Darlington (613 permanent and 75 temporary). This equates to 667 FTEs; all temporary staff are full time and of the permanent staff, 546 are full time and 67 part time.

Students: Finance

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with  (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer,  (b) the National Union of Students,  (c) the Universities and Colleges Union,  (d) the Russell Group and  (e) other universities on (i) a supplementary tax on graduates and (ii) raising the cap on tuition fees.

David Willetts: Ministers and officials in this Department regularly meet their counterparts in other Government Departments and higher education stakeholders for discussions and advice on a range of issues including general discussions about university funding.
	The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne, has been tasked with making recommendations to Government on the future of fees policy and financial support for students in England. The review will consider how to ensure a properly funded university sector in a way which is more financially sustainable than the current system, and it is looking at a wide range of options. It will report in the autumn.

Students: Finance

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the range of potential revenues which would accrue to universities in England from  (a) a supplementary tax on graduates and  (b) raising the cap on tuition fees.

David Willetts: The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne, has been tasked with making recommendations to Government on the future of fees policy and financial support for students in England. The review will consider how to ensure a properly funded university sector in a way which is more financially sustainable than the current system, and it is looking at a wide range of options. It will report in the autumn.

Students: Finance

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on higher education in Scotland of raising the cap on tuition fees in England.

David Willetts: The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne, has been tasked with making recommendations to Government on the future of fees policy and financial support for students in England. The review will consider how to ensure a properly funded university sector in a way which is more financially sustainable than the current system. It will report in the autumn.

UK Trade and Investment: Afghanistan

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of assigning a representative of UK Trade and Investment to Afghanistan.

Mark Prisk: UKTI recognise the opportunities that exist in Afghanistan, and support activities where appropriate. Representation within markets reflects business demand. Presently, the requests received by UKTI for assistance in connection with Afghanistan are limited and ad hoc. UKTI has been exploring private-sector interest in the idea of providing a secondee for an in-market scoping exercise, but so far it has been muted.
	UKTI will continue to monitor and review the scale of opportunities and level of demand for some form of in-market presence in this market, and to calibrate this with competing demands for resources from other markets.